Revolution on Wheels

Hey there readers,


This week I'm hosting a guest blogger, Raphael Sartorius!  
What brought him to Lebanon? No one really knows. But, after 26 years of life in cold Germany he woke up on a sunny day in Beirut and started making some observations which led him to my blog. In his very Gonzo way.... Here you go! 


Revolution on Wheels!


How the Arab revolutions are linked with wheels.


A state is to be judged by its state of exception. This is said by a German philosopher named Carlo Schmitt in the swinging 20s of the last century. He was referring to politics of course, but if we switch it to the daily traffic life, it will still tell a lot.


Its a hit and run, once you're off the popular Corniche beach walk. A video game, but you are the main and real player – on a bicycle. Within the concrete jungle, asking yourself whether you're top or bottom of the food chain. Jumping up and down the pavements, chasing in zig-zag lines between the cars: left right left, full stop, squeaking brakes, foot down to push. Honking cars. You will earn a lot of comments.
From the scooter riders, Beiruts' busy jungle bees, who even reject you as one of their kind. You're alone in the jungle. From the car drivers, sarcastically smiling at you. And I bet somebody took pictures of me with their mobiles like they did of the Kerserwany sisters riding camels in “3al Jamal bi wasat Beirut”. Youtube it, and after this the “Marsian biking in Beirut” or something similar if you wanna see me.        


                              “Botoxed beast, I'm not poor, I'm a fanatic!”


Is it because of sympathy or is it the mere astonishment that keeps the Beirutis' jaws down? “Hey you Cayenne-bitch pointing at me,” I'm thinking to myself, “botoxed beast, I'm not poor, I'm a fanatic. I spend on bikes the money others spent on Cars! My treasures are a low tyre racing bike and full suspended mountain bikes among others! With golden brake lines! I want it that way!”


Well, who cares. I continue my way and take the next giant pavement hole with an elegant hop. That's the same kind of person that complains about how noisy, polluted and ugly Beirut is on a weekday. Boost your brains and not your boobs, baby. The traffic is horrible because of people like you, the air is toxic because you're going the three hundred meters to work with a V8 instead of a Smart – or a bike. In London and Paris, there are bike lanes. In Berlin you can rent a bike and drop it off on every single corner. Once upon a time, even the automobile fetish Americans declared New York's 5th Avenue as a pedestrian precinct. Why can't that happen in Beirut?


A movement called Arab spring took the region last year. I think Beirut should join. By bike. It would be a lovely and peaceful, exceptionally revolution.


Raphael Sartorius