... is going down (We're going political again)

Can bicycles save the world? By themselves, no. As a part of a bigger solution, maybe. We think that bicycles is an indispensable part of building a better future, in making the world a better place, in saving the environment. In order to stop environmental pollution cars need to be replaces by bicycles, people need to use bicycles to get to work, to school, to go shopping and so on.

But bicycles are not the solution to all problems facing the world right now. Anyone living here in the North right now can't have avoided reading or hearing about the huge number of refugees fleeing from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and other countries, trying to get to Germany or Sweden, where they think that they will be safe and able to build a new, better life for themselves. Some, like those from Syria or Afghanistan, mainly flee from war and terror. Others, like those from Bangladesh or some Sub-Saharan African countries, mainly flee from poverty. And they try to make it here, to the North, crossing the Mediterranean Sea on dangerous rafts and then walking, trying to get a ride on buses and trains through Europe, through Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria to Germany or to Sweden, then often through Denmark. Of course, some people take other routes, just today we heard a story on the radio about a man who fled from Syria to Norway, via Russia. (Actually he used a bicycle to make it across the Russian-Norwegian border up in the far North of Europe, since for some reason it is forbidden to cross that border on foot, but allowed to do it on bicycle.) A small number of refugees also continue to Finland, trying to find a safe haven there.

What to they face on their journeys? They risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea, they have to walk long distances through heat or cold, scorching sun or rain (soon snow too), they have to struggle to cross bordes, to find something to eat, some are treated brutally by European authorities and when they finally reach their destination they are met by people protesting, shooting fireworks at them, burning down the refugee camps. And just six hours ago the Swedish government initiated temporary border controls, stopping all people who can't show valid identification papers.

And then we have the beggars, mainly Romani people from Romania and Bulgaria, who are now found outside almost every grocer's and in every train station in every town here in Sweden, trying to sell magazines or begging, hopefully making some money to take home to their villages in Romania or Bulgaria and make their lives a little better. They are insulted, shouted at, spat upon and they are constantly being driven away from places where they try to camp.

(Perhaps it is important to be reminded of all the good people. All the people who volunteer, who spend their time and money to help the refugees and the beggars. Or simply those who say something kind and supportive to their fellow beings. Especially right now, when the xenophobic Sweden Democrats party are campaigning in Greece and are going to place ads in Arab newspapers, trying to deter refugees from seeking asylum in Sweden.)

Bicycles, on most occasions, can't help all these people. We in Ensliga Bergens cykelklubb think that owning a bicycle should almost be considered a human right but that doesn't really help here. And it's not a solution. So now what? Can we just let this go on? Well, no. While taking a step back and simply thinking that it's not our problem - it's someone else's problem - might work in a short perspective it won't work over time. Besides, it's not very nice. (And we shouldn't have to tell people not to shoot fireworks or spit at other people. That's purely common sense and nice manners.) Over time we have to work on long-term solutions, ending the war and terror and make it possible for everyone to live a decent life without having to flee.

Right now, though, we have to make sure that everyone that flees gets the right to get their case tried, to see if they have reasons to be granted asylum or not. Not just in Sweden, but all over Europe. We have to give everyone shelter, somewhere to rest and get a decent meal. And sometime inbetween right now and long term we have to give everyone the chance to make a decent living. It is not impossible. There is enough money and resources around to suffice, so that everyone could get a fair share - we just have to (re)distribute it.

Do you know what your long-term solution look like? We know how ours look, but it is clear that it will take time. In the meantime we will simply try to be nice to people, say nice things to them, put pressure on our politicians to make them take the right decisions and protest when they take the wrong ones. Everyone can make a small change.

And to make up for our political ranting, two pictures of a nice Columbus Pinta 1492.

It could use a wash and wax, but all in all it looks like a nice bike!

Ride safe!