17. Organised horizontally and independently
The Forum relied on a voluntary contribution from participants of
various different countries and states in Brazil. They paid for their
own transport, volunteered to speak in public, and were given a place
to stay by other others involved.
18. The first ever World
Bicycle Forum was a
success in terms of
public, collaborative
and guest
participation.
19. About 7,000 people participated
as speakers and participants in workshops, including visitors from
various countries and states in Brazil who took part in the main body of
events, as well as in parallel events including exhibitions and bike rides.
20. Chris Carlsson,
the American writer and bike activist
(who co-founded Critical Mass
in San Francisco in 1992 – an
event that takes place to this
day) was one of the panellists.
Other participants included the
English urbanist Fiona Roy who
is now settled in Brazil, the
President of both Green Mobility
Brasil and the Instituto Mobilidade
Verde – Lincoln Paiva, and the
Director General of the São Paolo
Association of Urban Cyclists –
Ciclocidade, Thiago Bennichio.
21. The amount of coverage
the media
gave to the
Forum was
surprising!
Coverage of the Forum
that was organized in
just two months totalled
over 50 reports in the
printed press, with
around 50 TV and radio
pieces on the subject
before, during and after
the event. In addition
there were 384 internet
insertions devoted to
the Forum.
