Fahrrad.Selbsthilfe im WUK bicycle DIY workshop at WUK

Fahrrad.Selbsthilfe im WUK
Bicycle D.I.Y. Workshop at WUK
more than 30 years dedicated to cycling in Vienna
HAE Dechant
How it all began...
1981
a group of people from different transport initiatives
• ARGUS
• Friends Of the Earth
• Grünladen
• ...
Alexander Pöpperl, Heinz Buchegger, Albert Maresch, Martin Köck, ...
1981 first workshop at „Gaga“
„Gaga“ was a squat in Vienna‘s 5th district
guerilla – bike lane painting
but also other paintings…
nice socializing space, but lack of tools
1983 vacation of „Gaga“ by police
1983 bicycle workshop
moves to WUK
„we want workshop and culture houses of peace“
Werkstätten und Kulturhaus
workshop and culture house
WUK is a 12000-square-metre
space of culture, workshops,
and social gathering. Located in
one of the biggest cultural
centers of Europe, it is also at
the intersection of artistic
practice, labor, and political
engagement. WUK offers a
cultural space where one can
contemplate, discuss, and
explore.
Since 1983 open D.I.Y. workshop
• Open at least 3 days a week
• 2.000 to 3.000 guests every year
the ‚backbone‘ of the workshops activities
1988 „laboratory of human kinetics“
• working on ‚special constructions‘
• Welding, brazing, turning, ...
• some examples later....
1989
last founding member
leaves the group
Heinz Buchegger
Lives today as a Buddhist monk in Berlin??
2003 registration of an association
some examples of “special constructions”
built at WUK Fahrrad
1990
ice bikes
6 different types over the years
1992
recumbent bike
studies
1993
radio bike
1995
shower bike
pedaling activates directly a water pump
1995
car – doored
1995
tridem
complete frame built in WUK
originally built for film production
1992
“Janus” bike
The bike with the two faces
Like in real live: if both try to go straight only,
they just turn in circles.
One has to change his direction.
1994
subtonic cycle
initiated by Canadian artists
tricycle pulled by a unicycle
constructed as a moving stage for festivals
used in Bosnia at the end of the war
Giving concerts while traveling
2004
Piano Mobile
still touring through Austria every summer
2006
pedal boat
2007
Sociable
trailors
further activities …
• exhibitions
• “crazy bikes” at street festivals
• “ordinary” group
• social racks
• bike moves
• cargo bike collective
• flea market
1987, 1988, 1991,
1995
exhibitions
bicycle culture, bicycle cult, historic stuff,…
since 1992 with “special constructions”
on street festivals
crazy bikes
now always on
ARGUS bike festival
Rasen am Ring
local street festivals
sport festivals
since 1998
high wheel group
building the bikes in D.I.Y. workshops
going on excursions together
Joining international events
penny farthing
D.I.Y. workshops
participants from all over Europe
2 weeks in Vienna to build your own
penny farthing
more than 100 high-wheeler built so far
A group in Scotland now making its own
workshops with our design engineering.
2005
penny farthings ballet
for “Red Nose day”
since 2006
bike moves
2006 organizing the move of a 5-person
family
initializes extensive trailer-constructions at
WUK
leads to cargo-bike collective
since 2008
cargo bike collective
idea born in WUK
organized outside of WUK
WUK is part of the collective with its trailers
2008/2009
racks for news agents
really shity bikes
always in need of racks
little money
Important part of Vienna’s transport
logistics
2008
design workshop
designing an easy to build massive
rack
collecting money for the material of
the racks
2009
building 50 racks
2 weekend workshops (spring and fall)
each time approx. 25 racks built
given to the news agents for a small fee
(to save the racks from not being used)
repairing workshops
special workshops for:
beginners
children
women
unaccompanied refugee children
since 2009
flea market
once a month
every first Wednesday
approximately 50 to 100 bikes sold
every month
Thank You
for your
patience!