London Indymedia

The tr(((i)))ke is coming!

pedal powered fool | 28.04.2005 13:45 | Ecology | Indymedia | Technology | London | South Coast

On tuesday 3rd May, a couple of intrepid media activists will start a 110 mile cycle to bring a heavy old tricycle from Dorset to London. On arrival, the rusty old workhorse will be de-rusted, painted and then equipped with laptops, wifi and a hefty 12 volt power system.

It is estimated that the gruelling delivery journey will take four days if all goes well. The two cyclists will take it in turns to pedal while the other rest on the back of the trike. Attempts will be made to hitch a lift back to London with the huge trike but it's considered pretty unlikely to work. During the trip leaflets about Indymedia and the G8 bike carvan will be distributed to curious bystanders.

If you happen to be driving from the South Coast to London with an empty van, trailer or a large roof rack, perhaps you could offer a lift. If you live on route then offers of crash space would be much appreciated.

the tr(((i)))ke in action (artists impression ;-)
the tr(((i)))ke in action (artists impression ;-)


Nicknamed 'the tr(((i)))ke' it is planned to fulfil various roles, the most obvious being a mobile indymedia access point. It will be taken to big public events and protests etc where people would be able to submit their digital photos, compressed video or audio clips, as well as type
up written reports. These will be uploaded to indymedia via wireless internet connectivity at the earliest opportunity. If an open wifi node is available at the scene, a webcam will provide live video streaming from location.

The tr(((i)))ke will promote DIY media and the open publishing concept and will be utilised as an mobile info point with paper publications such as Indymedia Offline and SchNEWS available for distribution. It will hopefully be a shared resource providing an convenient platform for: guerrilla video screening projects such as Lifecycles; a mobile Hacklab for open source software workshops; a visual promotion of sustainable transportation, and equipped with a few solar panels, a renewable energy demonstration.

Some key features...

- Eye catching promotion of DIY media / info point for paper publications.

- Reuse of old computers installed with freely available open source software.

- Wifi internet connectivity and solar power for off-grid mobility.

- Multicard reader to allow people to upload photos from almost any digital camera.

- Firewire - for rapid video clip / editing / upload facilities.

- Microphones for live interviews and sound-scape, either recorded or streamed live.

- Webcam to provide live streamed video images from location.

- Sound system, for live announcements or tunes (from massive on-board MP3 archive).

- Provision for outdoor screening (with access to massive activist video archive on harddisk).

This project has no funding and costs so far (apart from an impromptu benefit by Audio Trauma at the rampART last month) have been covered by by the individuals putting the system together. With it's total cost estimated at around 600 pounds, donations would be most welcome.

If you know of any possible transport to get the tr(((i)))ke to scotland for July, please get intouch.

07050 618445

pedal powered fool
- e-mail: trike@aktivix.org

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

uuugh

29.04.2005 09:56

Better no photo than such a shit photo...

u


thanks

29.04.2005 11:41

thanks for that useful and inspiring comment.

b


Silly Photo - Silly Question

01.05.2005 11:15

Well he/she has a point - it is a shit photo. As for the request about how to get the trike to Scotland - why not ride it there ?

Gravy


trike to scotland

04.05.2005 23:57

It certainly is a silly question...

London to Glen Eagles is over 500 miles which at at the likely average speed of the trike of just 25 miles per day would mean around three weeks pedaling every day. Climbing a hill with a loaded trike (car batteries, laptops etc plus food, clothes, sleeping tat and tent etc) would be incredible difficult and slow and things get increasingly hilly as you go north. Injuries and exhustion plus inevitable repairs on route would slow things donw even more so it would likely as not take a good month to make the trip. Going so slow would mean that it wouldn't be possible to go with the G8 bike ride as they will be travelling almost twice the speed and be able to maintain longer cycling hours each day.

So who would be willing and able to take a month out to cycle alone to scotland on a heavy old trike loaded with tat? Who wouldn't have other important things to do during that period prior to the G8?

So... you voluntering then?

b


safely in lonodn

11.05.2005 15:48

just to say (if anybody is interested), the trike is now in London and in the process of being converted into a mobile media centre.

b


Photos of tr(((i)))cycle in progress

20.05.2005 13:37

Table module with six web terminals
Table module with six web terminals

Rickshaw module with two photodesk and upload terminals
Rickshaw module with two photodesk and upload terminals

Rickshaw module with two photodesk and upload terminals
Rickshaw module with two photodesk and upload terminals

Here are some photos of the mobile IMC in progress...

mobile imc


Awesome!!

07.06.2005 04:02

That's looking Gr8 M8 ;))

See u on the streets - live and direct.

resista


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