Since the early 1980s, David Byrne has been riding a bicycle as his principal means of transportation in New York City. A few years later he discovered folding bikes, and starting taking them with him on music tour overseas, and experienced a sense of liberation as he pedalled around many of the world's principal cities. The point of view from his bike seat has given Byrne a panoramic window on urban life over the last thirty years as he has cycled round cities such as London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila, New York, and San Francisco. From music and the visual arts, to globalisation, politics, the nature of creative work, fashion and art, this book gives the reader an incredible insight into what Byrne is seeing and thinking as he pedals around these cities. Filled with intimate photographs, incredible musical stories and a powerful ecological message, this is a enchanting celebration of bike riding – of the rewards of seeing the world at bike level.
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Book Description
An utterly unique and personal travelogue from a cult figure in contemporary music.
From the Back Cover
Since the early 1980s, David Byrne has been riding a bike as his principal means of transportation in New York City. Two decades ago, he discovered folding bikes, and starting taking them on tour. Byrne’s choice was made out of convenience rather than political motivation, but the more cities he saw from his bicycle, the more he became hooked on this mode of transport and the sense of liberation it provided. Convinced that urban biking opens one’s eyes to the inner workings and rhythms of a city’s geography and population, Byrne began keeping a journal of his observations and insights. An account of what he sees and who he meets as he pedals through metropolises from Berlin to Buenos Aires, Istanbul to San Francisco, Manila to New York, Bicycle Diaries also records Byrne’s thoughts on world music, urban planning, fashion, architecture, cultural dislocation, and much more, all with a highly personal mixture of humour, curiosity, and humility. Part-travelogue, part-journal, part-photo album, Bicycle Diaries is an eye-opening celebration of seeing the world at bike level.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Byrne is a committed cycling campaigner who takes bikes with him as he travels the world, mainly to the cities where his musical and artistic work takes him. When he has time off, he uses his bike - usually a full-size folding mountain bike he puts in a suitcase to travel on planes - to wander about and explore. It is this aspect of the book which most interested me, because he seems to be a practitioner of the derive, the engaged but directionless wander first proposed by the situationists as a suitable way to move through cities.
As the title suggests, the material for the book evolved in diary form over time, and the structure of the book reflects this. It is right, and true to the material, that this should be so, but it does mean that the various entries are of variable quality. Nevertheless, books of this kind, where an intelligent and engaged observer with a liberal agenda but no particular end in mind takes a close look at localities, are scarce indeed. In the hands of a travel writer, or a journalist, a totally different book would have emerged, but actually, this is the book I wanted.
As the title suggests, the material for the book evolved in diary form over time, and the structure of the book reflects this. It is right, and true to the material, that this should be so, but it does mean that the various entries are of variable quality. Nevertheless, books of this kind, where an intelligent and engaged observer with a liberal agenda but no particular end in mind takes a close look at localities, are scarce indeed. In the hands of a travel writer, or a journalist, a totally different book would have emerged, but actually, this is the book I wanted.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By GreyBrother
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book has a dual identity, part travelogue, and part common-sense examination of what makes a pleasant, liveable city, and what doesn't. I found this to be a refreshingly straightforward approach, and far more interesting than the average travel memoir.
Byrne is particularly good when examining U.S. cities, from the horrific but fascinating decline of Detroit, to the hopeful reinvention of New York. One excellent passage in particular sticks in the mind:
"Since the onslaught of the automobile in the middle of the last century, and the efforts of its enablers, like Robert Moses in New York, the accepted response to congestion has been to build more roads, especially roads that are high speed and with limited access. Eventually it became clear that building more roads doesn't actually relieve congestion - ever. More cars simply appear to fill these new roads and more folks imagine that their errands and commutes might be accomplished more easily on these new expressways. Yeah, right. People end up driving more, so instead of the existing traffic levels remaining constant and becoming dispersed on the new ribbons of concrete, the traffic simply increases until those too are filled. That's what New York and a lot of other cities are realizing now. The old paradigm is finally being abandoned."
Thank goodness for that.
Byrne is particularly good when examining U.S. cities, from the horrific but fascinating decline of Detroit, to the hopeful reinvention of New York. One excellent passage in particular sticks in the mind:
"Since the onslaught of the automobile in the middle of the last century, and the efforts of its enablers, like Robert Moses in New York, the accepted response to congestion has been to build more roads, especially roads that are high speed and with limited access. Eventually it became clear that building more roads doesn't actually relieve congestion - ever. More cars simply appear to fill these new roads and more folks imagine that their errands and commutes might be accomplished more easily on these new expressways. Yeah, right. People end up driving more, so instead of the existing traffic levels remaining constant and becoming dispersed on the new ribbons of concrete, the traffic simply increases until those too are filled. That's what New York and a lot of other cities are realizing now. The old paradigm is finally being abandoned."
Thank goodness for that.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Hutch
Format:Hardcover
While most of the media's favourite darlings worry about their media image, David Byrne has once again showed everyone how it should be done. Like he did in the 80's with his incredibly innovative songs and melodies, here he is paving the way towards a healthier, happier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle. It was very interesting reading this book to see how cyclists cope in other countries. I remember being shocked after a visit to The Netherlands. Cycling seemed the norm. Everyone gave way to cyclists. 8am in the morning and the cycle paths were full of cyclists. Here in the UK everyone seems to drive everywhere. This book inspired me to buy a folding bike and cycle to work. I'm sure if Elvis had read this he would have sold his Cadillac collection and cycled to the recording studio too.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful
I liked it. Meandering. lateral, about lots of things, but not one thing in particular. I went off David Byrne after Talking Heads. I like him a bit better now.
Published 4 months ago by I. Yusuf
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful and quirky
David Byrne surprised me by being so enjoyably readable. This book is a wonderful travelogue. Its quirky as it gives a cyclists view of the major cities he visits, but he also... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Ms. Joanna F. Dalietos
3.0 out of 5 stars
talk
as i am bicycling in the philippines too (i am austrian) i been interested about david byrnes experiences, its nice to read about other peoples going round big cities ... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ronald Perz
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Delightful Ramble
A very unusual book, very rambling and lacking in structure but strangely engaging and enjoyable. David Byrne travels the world with his folding bike, and cycles around almost... Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. Brooks
3.0 out of 5 stars
No Che Guevara...
When I picked this up I didn't know that David Byrne had been in Talking Heads, and I still haven't listened to any music by that group. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Woolgatherer
4.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliantly eccentric and highly personal book
David Byrne is better known for his music than his writing output. Although he's authored quite a few books this one stands out as one of his more mainstream offerings. Read more
Published 17 months ago by David Briddock
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous
Byrne writes with confidence unstylishly and with confidence and every now and then makes fascinating observations. The bicycle is hardly visible.
Published 23 months ago by Roofrack
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating perspective
A fascinating perspective on some of the major cities from a different angle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the discussions/points raised about Urban planning and... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2011 by M. P. Royal
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Read
An interesting perspective on the cities of the world and their art, culture and development, from a man who's well travelled. Recommended. Read more
Published on 28 Mar 2011 by Mr. William P. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
a happy cyclist
I like David Byrn's music so I was confident I'd like this book. I wasn't disappointed. Mr Byrne is an optimist and, in my view writes well,to provide an interesting, cyclists'... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2011 by bluemo
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