This episode features Dr. Evan Friss, a U.S. urban historian who teaches at James Madison University. He researches the intersections between bicycles, people, and cities.
In this episode we discuss the long history of cycling in New York City, including its liberating potential (from a tool for mass protests to an escape for suburban kids), as well as the way access to bikes has often been impaired by race, class, and gender. We contemplate the many forms of cycling in NYC, from Citibike, to food delivery cyclists, to competitive athletes training in Central Park. We also speak about when and where we’ve personally had the most fun riding bikes in NYC!
Dr. Friss has written two books: The Cycling City: Bicycles and Urban America in the 1890s and On Bicycles: A 200-Year History of Cycling in New York City. He also co-curated an exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York called Cycling in the City.
To learn more about his work, check out his website (www.evanfriss.com) or follow him on Twitter @EvanFriss
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Everyday Environmentalism is a podcast that tells past and present stories about "urban nature" in New York City. We interview current activists in tandem with environmental historians to produce a long history of the ways ordinary New Yorkers have experienced the urban outdoors and created more sustainable relationships with their environment.
Visit www.everydayenvironmentalism.org for more information.
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To see to a transcript of this podcast with accompanying audio, visit this URL: https://otter.ai/u/rq1-TT4N6dxZxXJ8ZLDUKUw_AT4
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