Photo © Lara Fernández González
A few metres away is the studio where I worked. In a few minutes on foot I could observe the flow of citizens. On the one hand, the users of public services: train, underground, bus and even boat. Others who are more privileged used their own cars or motorbikes. But the most surprising thing for me was how another group of people took advantage of their commuting time to keep fit. It wasn’t seasonal or occasional, but rather totally routine and methodical. Many were on bicycles, others were running. It was amazing for me to see how many of my workmates arrived at work totally ‘disguised’ as bike tourists or as if they were professional runners. But of course there was a change room and showers at the office where each worker had the space to ‘transform himself or herself’ and begin the workday. A locker to leave your work clothes every evening and a place to stuff yourself into your leggings again and go home. I’m talking about work policies that promote the famous 'MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO'. Otherwise we have the society that goes to the gym by car, a big problem.
Photo © Lara Fernández González
The bicycle changed my life in London. I finally listened to my good friend and great cycle tourist, Sergio, who since my arrival in ‘the city’ never stopped pressuring me to buy one. He was right. Seeing the city on ‘2 wheels’ gave me another perspective. Not to mention the freedom and savings. Galeano said it: ‘the bicycle doesn’t pollute the silence or poison the air.’ I could go for a ride, go shopping, as well as de-stress and get fit. I enjoyed crossing the city from east to west and as my confidence grew, so did my possibilities. New roads, new routes. Slipping between two busses into the ‘cyclers’ lane was exciting…..
Every urban nucleus has its own rhythm, its own character. The mobility of individuals is one of the factors that has the most influence on the personality of the city. Through its roads and lanes, citizens enter the metropolis to be the undisputed protagonists and to push the car out of its position of privilege.
Being a conscientious citizen, fleeing the schizophrenia of traffic and parking problems is a huge challenge in the times we live in.
Promoting the conversion of the citizen into a consumer of this space-time that is the neighbourhood, the city or the nation where the individual moves as a resident that turns into a citizen that consumes the city.
Foto © Lara Fernández González.
IN TREATMENT - METALOCUS
DIRECTOR: JOSÉ JUAN BARBA. COORDINACIÓN: INÉS LALUETA. ORGANIZACIÓN: INÉS LALUETA, PEDRO NAVARRO. VERSIÓN INGLÉS: KAREN SIMPSON. INVITADOS 1ª TEMPORADA: JOSÉ JUAN BARBA, MARINA DIEZ-CASCÓN, SERGIO DIEZ-CASCÓN SOLER, LARA FERNÁNDEZ GONZÁLEZ, CARLOS GERHARD PI-SUÑER, MONTSE PLA GARCÍA-CASTANY, XAVIER NICOLAU CUYÀS, FERNANDO RIAL PONCE, VERÓNICA ROSERO.
