Deadly Nightshades featured in the Huffington Post!

We were happy to be interviewed by the amazing Amelia Brown for the Huffington Post Canada on how we Gen Y/ Millennials use cycling to express our style, independence and create the culture we value.

"The Deadly Nightshades are convinced that the bicycle is magic. When they're out as a "roving midnight bike gang," in seafoam green jackets, the seven women are a bewitching sight, mixing cycling, art and fashion."

Just one note, for us "fashion" is more "personal style". The Deadly Nightshades came about from a firm distaste of the traditional fashion industry, and it was our punk way to be ourselves and assert our own values. So dress how you want, define your own cycle chic, don't let others tell you how to express yourself, and make your own informed decisions first and foremost.

Already the one comment on the blog is about how we aren't wearing helmets. (Rolls eyes.) Our official stance is this: we all do and we all don't, depending on various factors. Helmets, while AWESOME and have saved several of our noggins at various points, aren't a fix-all for bike safety, and are really just this trolling, polarizing issue we'd all be best to just drop as a topic of focus. The fact is, if we had been wearing helmets we'd be criticized for promoting a culture of fear and not putting the emphasis on car driver resonsiblity. Luke Brocki did an awesome write up of the issue in his article on Velo-City 2012. 

The Huffington post article is a great article read all around, addressing economic issues like the crippling cost of cars, awesome places like the Bike Kitchen at UBC, and events like the Bicycle Film Festival.

"Despite efforts to market bright, affordable and gadget-laden cars to the Millennials, the bicycle is an easy solution that offers Generation Y freedom to get where they need to go without worrying about insurance payments down the road."

Huzzah! Let the culture shift continue!

The #1 Rule

The Deadly Nightshades have only one rule: Don't Die.

Basically any other suggestions we have stem from Rule #1. These Biking Rules Street Code from NYC's Transportation Alternatives are all about leading by example. Leading by example is pretty much the best system to help create a pleasant cycling culture in any city, AND help anyone adhere to Rule #1.



There are a few things in there that could be argued- going against traffic on small one way streets can be much safer then riding with traffic on very busy streets. While helmets are awesome and DNS is in full support of protecting your central processing system with a brain bucket, helmet laws can actually prevent people from riding, and that's lame. Everything else is pretty much spot on.

Since being back in Toronto I've actually been shocked at the lack of bike lights in this city. Vancouver can get so dark you end up needing lights just to see where you are going. In Toronto we have so much light pollution visibility isn't as dire, but lights in traffic are a great way to follow DNS Rule #1. You may not realize how vulnerable you actually are until you yourself are in a car or bus and are surprised by a cyclist without a light. Check out Cycle Toronto's Get Lit! program for more info.

Cyclists have a bad rep for causing bike accidents. (If you have Linkedin you can read this bizarre thread on Ghost Bikes and the odd turn it takes.) This is basically a BS perception based on... I'm not too sure. A few bad bike eggs? Car drivers not wanting to take responsibility? It's well known that when you demonize a group of people it makes it easier for someone to justify suppressing or hurting that group, as they become the dangerous "others". Old-as-time tactic in warfare. Gross, right?


don't tell me what to do

When campaigning for change, it's important to not take on the tactics of what you are trying to change. Albert Einsteing put it best: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." There is definitely a demonetization of drivers in the cycling world. In return all individual cyclists can also be lumped into one big cyclist category. So let's drop it. It won't get us anywhere. Dave Meslin did a great piece of advocacy campaign called Drivers for Jarvis based on the misconception that in the streets it's "drivers" vs. "cyclists".

I digress. Leading by example is awesome. So is changing misconceptions, and breaking down walls. Let's make this city work for everyone so we can get down to more pressing issues like the latest nail art trends, feasting with friends and dance parties.

Happy Holidays from DNS. xo

Fill your holiday season with friends, family and love, love, love... actually, fill your life with this all year round.

1 Love. xo


Please enjoy Big Boi reading the Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

SUBMIT TO THE BICYCLE!

Velo City 2012 is gearing up for another fabulous conference in the soon to be bike-capital of the world, Vancouver. They are currently seeking abstracts for presentation proposals for their amazing conference next June.

"The conference theme, Cities in Motion, will spotlight communities that are enabling and encouraging people of all ages to choose cycling as a daily form of active transportation and recreation. We encourage all cities and regions around the world - small, medium, and large - to share how they are creating healthy, livable, inclusive, vibrant, green communities through cycling and enhancements to the built environment that are both supportive of and enabled by embracing cycling as an integral component of combined, sustainable and smart mobility"

Maybe you'll see DNS there presenting about the 3B's and how they encourage active and healthy transportation? (That would be bikes, booze and babes.)

Bike Gang Instruction Manual: Lesson #331 - Staying Fit

If you are going to start a bike gang, there is one thing that you must do and that is stay fit. It is very important. Not only for gang morale and physical attractiveness, but also for better biking and other gang related purposes. Staying fit requires hard work, discipline and proper nutrition. REMEMBER: It is entirely possible that tribute bike gangs could pop up out of nowhere and you will have no choice but to challenge them to a beer drinking competition. And we all know that muscles absorb alcohol better than fat does, I know you know that - so start pumping iron NOW.



The Deadly Nightshades always stay fit. Notice Namtron's excellent form here as she works on her quadriceps. Keep your head up while you work this muscle.


Don't forget - it is also important to have a gym buddy. This will motivate you to go to the gym more often and keep you from becoming stale in your routine. Switch it up sometimes and try squats instead of deadlifts!!!