A dedicated activist and Bicycle Mayor of Tbilisi navigates urban hurdles in a ceaseless quest. Through her journey, the film unveils the paradoxical world taking shape around bicycles and cyclists in surreal urban complexities.

The urban panorama observed from a bicycle unveils a reality that diverges from  our inhabited environment. This reality is marked by brutality and absurdities. Tbilisi is  a city where the culture of riding a bike has not yet been developed—despite the fact it has had a bicycle mayor for a year already. Against this backdrop, a young woman, Mar Mikhelidze, commutes in the city on her two-wheeled transport every day. 

A city full of cars, traffic jams are common in Tbilisi. In this chaos and inequality, Mar Mikhelidze has emerged as an activist among like-minded individuals as she tries to be a catalyst for change with her exemplary commitment.  The film observes the challenges of an enthusiastic cyclist in Tbilisi and at the same time unveils the paradoxical world shaping around bicycles and cyclists in the city’s urban labyrinth. 

Director's note:

Bicycles are still not recognized as a means of transport in Georgia. It is perceived as more of an entertainment, a children’s plaything. From time to time I use a bicycle to get around, and I can say from my own experience that some drivers do not take bikers seriously. Although there is a wide sidewalk on Chavchavadze Avenue, some pedestrians still walk on the bicycle paths. It is also possible to note trash bins, police taking a rest and even the occasional smoking areas organized by neighboring offices.

Transport policy is directly related to human rights. The more the system is adapted to human needs, the more environmentally friendly transport is developed. Unfortunately Tbilisi is quite behind in this regard. It is a car-dominated city, and although most citizens like the bicycle infrastructure in European cities, they are still not in favor of taking up the habit in their own country. Many stereotypes in Georgia exist around the development of bicycle transport. For example, people will tell you that Tbilisi is a hilly city and it is less likely that cycling can be developed as an efficient mode of transport.

However, many districts of Tbilisi are built on the plains and commuting by bike is quite possible. There is not even a single hill to climb from the farthest district of the city, Didi Dighomi, to the center (the area of the House of Justice). There is a potential in other parts of the city as well. This type of transportation is cheaper and healthier. Nevertheless, Tbilisi has been drowning in traffic jams and exhaust emissions for quite some time. This is directly related to the right-wing economy which has not had an alternative for 30 years as all ruling parties in our country have had the same approach. Politics determine dependence on cars and eventually people grow accustomed to using automobiles. While there are not many strong supporters for the  development of bicycle transport a growing awareness for the need is noticeable online.

This film was prepared with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) South Caucasus Regional Office. All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of FES.