Dreams On Wheels

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is funny. He’s a natural entertainer and would-be stand-up comic. His comedic skills were on show when he co-hosted the Dreams on Wheels Exhibition Launch with the Ambassador for Denmark, His Excellency Birger Riis-Jørgensen, and joked that it’s always raining in the Danish capital, whereas in London it’s dry 94% of the time. I’m not sure where he gets his facts from, his tongue-in-cheek style of speech delivery means you don’t have to believe much of what he says. After all, he is a politician.

Dreams on Wheels: Cycling Culture for Urban Sustainability is an exhibition about cycling in London and Copenhagen. It’s free to visit and it ran at London City Hall, from 1 September to 2 October 09. According to Danish Embassy project manager Inge Henningsen, other versions have already been shown in Copenhagen, Canberra, Edinburgh, Riga, Paris, Toronto, Tokyo and Moscow.

Boris, as we all know, is an avid cyclist. He was almost run over recently, but still cycles to work. He says that his enthusiasm for cycling was born in Copenhagen in 1992 and that while 40% of journeys in Copenhagen are made by bicycles, here in London it’s only 1.5%. That’s a shame, and he’s working hard on making it 5% ‘in short order’.

In summer 2010, London will get two cycling superhighways (there are currently 13 in Copenhagen). He asks people to put their hands up if they came by cycle. A few hands go up. By bus? More. By car? The BBC camera crew put their hands up - cue for Boris to poke fun at them.

The Danish Ambassador to London, His Excellency Birger Riis-Jørgensen, said he’d cycled both to the exhibit and to other engagements that day, saving 2 kilograms of carbon emissions and using up 400 Calories. His wife, Karin Riis-Jørgensen, a lawyer and, until recently, Member of the European Parliament, is wearing her cycling gear. The Ambassador quotes her reply to the offer of a chauffeur ‘I’ve left mine chained to a lamp-post’. He says that Londoners are ‘nice to each other’ in traffic, and that cycling around the city shouldn’t be too much of a problem for that reason. He has a point: people in London are generally polite. They may not talk to you on the tube but they do say sorry a lot in supermarkets as they push their trolleys around the aisles, narrowly missing you.

The Ambassador presented the Mayor with a gift - a cycling helmet with the flag of Great Britain all over it - calling it ‘Brainware for smart people’. And Boris is smart. Under that flop of blond hair, he knows what he’s doing. He’s not afraid to make fun of himself because he gets people to like him and gets things done that way. Speeches from City Hall Director for Transport Policy Kulveer Ranger (who was just back from a trans-continental charity motorbike ride) and from exhibition curator Thomas Ugo Ermacora followed. Boris lingered briefly before being ushered off by his PA.

This London showing of Dreams on Wheels - with some intriguing bikes including one made from bamboo - leads up to the next major United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in Copenhagen from 7-18 December 2009.

Dreams on Wheels is curated by Etikstudiowith photographic contributions by Mikael Colville-Andersen; organised by the Embassy of Denmark, London in partnership with the Greater London Authority; supported by Transport for London and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Written by Greg Tallent, Greater London Authority for The Fringer Report
Photography Copyright Greater London Authority

Dreams on Wheels FULL VERSION 2010

Mexico City06.03.2010-22.03.2010
Mexico City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad de México), Pino Suarez 30.

Dreams on Wheels will be in Mexico City and will first be located at the “Club de Bicicletas”, which is the Bicycle office of the Environmental Department of Mexico City, close to Bosque de Chapultepec, from March 5th to March 22nd. Following, the exhibition will move to the “Zocalo” from March 22nd to April 30th

Mexico City06.04.2010-26.04.2010
Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Universidad, Zacapú, MICH, Mexico.

Rio12.06.2010-26.07.2010

The exhibition was at Centro de Arte Municipal Hélio Oiticica Rua Luís de Camões, 60 Centro – Rio de Janeiro.

Since 12 June the exhibition Dreams on Wheels is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The city learns now that cycling is not only about sport and can be a pleasant way of mobility in such a beautiful city as Rio de Janeiro.. read more

Brasília01.08.2010-16.08.2010
Opening in National Museum of Brasília.

On 1 August, the exhibition arrives in Brasília, capital of Brazil. There it will be at the National Museum. Brasília, as a projected young city - only fifty years old - will be able to see and learn how to create a more human city as well.

Dreams on Wheels LIGHT VERSION 2010

Brno 07.04.2010-17.04.2010

Nová radnice, Křížová chodba, Dominikánské nám. 1, Brno

Dreams on Wheels in Brno –Czech Republic- was complemented on 7 April 2010 by a Czech – Danish Seminar “Walking and Biking in the Cities”.. read more

Prague 20.04.2010-26.04.2010
Hala C, Drahobejlova 15, Prague

Dreams on Wheels in Prague is organised in collaboration with Auto*Mat, Nadace Partnerstvi and the Czech Ministry of Transport the Czech Ministry of Transport.. read more

Ljubljana 29.04.2010-10.05.2010
Ljubljana City Hall’s Desni atrij Mestni trg, 1, 1000 Ljubljana

Dreams On Wheels shown as a part of ‘May 2010 – Month of Cycling’, Embassy of Denmark, Ljubljana.in cooperation with the Municipality of Ljubljana presents the exhibition ‘Dreams on Wheels’.. read more

St. Petersburg 20.05.2010-31.05.2010
On 21 May 2010 the Dreams on Wheels exhibition takes off in Saint Petersburg.

Dreams on Wheels, which is an inspirational exhibition, will take place in Loft Project Etazhi, which used to be an old bread factory from the Soviet period that now has now been turned in to exhibition space in the centre of the city.. read more

Dublin 14.06.2010-18.06.2010
The exhibition takes place during Bike Week in the Civic Offices Atrium, Wood Quay, from 14-18 June 2010.

Do you find it normal that in the middle of a snow storm a lady rides home with her groceries and a baby on her bike.. read more

Dreams on Wheels FULL VERSION 2009

Edinburgh 19.01.2009 - 23.03.2009
Dreams on Wheels in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, United Kingdom

The Danish Cultural Institute, Great Britain, in collaboration with the Scottish Government, The City of Edinburgh Council, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark and various cycling organisations, is presenting the cycling exhibition, Dreams on Wheels in response to Denmark hosting COP 15 –The UN Climate Change.. read more

Moscow 20.05.2009 - 15.06.2009
Dreams on Wheels will be exhibited at the Central House of Artists Krymskiy Val ul. 10 Moskva 117049 Moscow, Russia

Conference on the 29 May: MOMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE.For the annual architectural fair, ARCH Moscow, The Royal Danish Embassy in Moscow was privileged this year to present the Danish exhibition Dreams on Wheels which was displayed together with the architectural exhibition, Instants of Architecture. Dreams on Wheels was presented.. read more

Portland 02.10.2009 - 10.11.2009
Portland is set to be a new destination for Dreams on Wheels. It will open in close cooperation with the Department of Transportation and the Oregon Manifest.. read more

San Francisco 19.11.2009-15.12.2009
Dreams on Wheels is currently riding towards San Francisco City Hall’s South Light Court. Open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for 26 and 27 November.

The exhibit will coincide with the United Nations International Climate Conference set for 3-14 December in Copenhagen. “The SFMTA is proud to share this exciting exhibit on bicycling with San Francisco and the Bay Area,” said Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., SFMTA Executive Director/CEO. “We know that it will be of great interest to our growing bicycling community.”.. read more

Dreams on Wheels LIGHT VERSION 2009

Riga 20.03.2009 -15.04.2009
The Dreams on Wheels are now cycling at the Riga Museum of Foreign Art, Pils Laukums 3, Riga 1050, Latvia

On 26th March 2009, the Danish Ambassador to Latvia Uffe Wolffhechel and the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers marked the opening of the exhibition Dreams on Wheels with a bicycle ride through the old quarter of the city of Riga. They were followed by a long procession of cycling citizens and a pack of running photographers.. read more

Visit the Danish Embassy in Riga

Tokyo 11.05.2009 -02.06.2009

Denmark’s Ambassador to Japan, Franz-Michael S. Mellbin, breaks away from the peloton to promote COP15 and Danish cycling culture in Japan. He will be joined by thousands of Japanese people. The Tour starts in Tokyo on May 23rd and will end in Copenhagen on June 14th.. read more

Budapest 25.08.2009 - 25.09.2009
Dreams on Wheels will be on show at the VAM Design Centre, Kiraly utca 26, Budapest

A dream comes true - Danish bicycles comes to Budapest – “Dreams on Wheels” The Royal Danish Embassy, The Danish Cultural Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and various cycling organisations is presenting the cycling exhibition, “Dreams on Wheels” in response to Denmark is hosting COP15 – the UN Climate Change Summit – in December 2009. The exhibition will.. read more

Conference on the 21 September: URBAN DESIGN AND TRAFFIC PLANNING. At the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, IB017 auditorium; District XI. Magyar Tudósok körútja 2

Visit the Danish Embassy in Budapest

London 01.09.2009-02.10.2009
Dreams on Wheels at London City Hall, The Queen’’s Walk, More London, London SE1 2AA Open Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30am to 6pm, Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and on London Open House weekend 19 and 20 September.

Welcome to the world of two wheels!For devoted or even those less passionate and occasional cyclists, Dreams on Wheels presents a view of contemporary urban cycling culture and examples of what can be seen and more importantly experienced in London and Copenhagen. For those of you who are yet.. read more

Visit the Danish Embassy in London

Barcelona 07.11.2009-16.11.2009
The exhibition is situated in Parc de la Ciutadella, entrance at the Arc de Triomf. Open daily 10 -18.00.

The Danish Cultural Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and various cycling organisations is presenting the Danish cycling exhibition; “Dreams on Wheels” in re-sponse to Denmark is hosting COP15 – the UN Climate Change Summit – in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The beautiful setting and weather made everyone feel like taking to their bike.. read more

Visit the Danish Embassy in Spain

Brussels 01.12.2009-18.12.2009
Dreams on Wheels are to be found at Brussels Luxemburg Station, under the Esplanade of the European Parliament, European Quarter of Brussels.

CONFERENCE ON 1 DECEMBER : in the Brussels ParliamentOn the occasion of COP15 Brussels will be in the sign of the bicycle on Tuesday the 1st of December. The Danish exhibition “Dreams on Wheels” will be officially opened at the Brussels Luxemburg Station, at the same time as the new bicycle point “point-vélo” where you can rent a bicycle or get you own repaired. In the afternoon a seminar on cycling policies and sustainable urban planning will take place in the Brussels Parliament.. read more

Visit the Danish Embassy in Brussels

On 26th March 2009, the Danish Ambassador to Latvia Uffe Wolffhechel and the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers marked the opening of the exhibition Dreams on Wheels with a bicycle ride through the old quarter of the city of Riga. They were followed by a long procession of cycling citizens and a pack of running photographers.

The exhibition, arranged by the Embassy in close cooperation with the Danish Cultural Institute, is on show at the Riga Museum of Foreign Arts. The museum is located at Riga Castle along with the President’s office. So it was only natural to invite the President to actively participate in the opening, thereby marking the green profile of Latvia.

The bicycle ride ended at Riga Castle where the exhibition was opened at a well-attended reception. In his opening speech, Ambassador Wolffhechel underlined the value of the bicycle as a CO2-neutral means of transport. He was pleased that so many Latvians, including the President, showed such great interest in the exhibition, especially in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP15, which will take place in Copenhagen later this year.

In his address, President Zatlers praised the cyclists of Riga for their contribution to the protection of the environment, but also expressed awareness that a more extensive use of bicycles as a means of transport would require investment in bicycle lanes.

Both the exhibition and the President’s bicycle ride have achieved massive media coverage in both printed and electronic Latvian media.

The exhibition, which has been shown in cities around the globe, illustrates Danish cycling culture and shows how to design infrastructure with a view to promoting cycling. Besides a comprehensive collection of photos and posters, a variety of bicycles are displayed. These range from the ordinary to the more curious kinds.

The exhibition can be seen at Riga Castle, Pils Square 3, in the period from 26th of March to 25th of April 2009, from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Monday closed.

As a follow-up to the exhibition, the Embassy and the Danish Cultural Institute will host a seminar on the 16th of April 2009. The theme of the seminar will be how to facilitate the use of bicycles through Urban Planning.

Press release from Embassy of Denmark, Riga of the 31 March 2009

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