Mobilize

Dublin is a narrow streets medieval origin town. Most of the city is flat but not entirely covered by bike and cycle lanes. Cyclists share the bus lane, where the double decker bus runs for lack of space. And there it works well because drivers get VR (virtual reality) training to feel what it's like to ride with a bus after them.

It was not the fear of having a double-decker bus after her that made an special Brazilian woman give up of cycling in the city. It was the intense and cold North Atlantic wind. Mart'nália loves cycling and had accepted my invitation to the Velo-City Bike Parade. But she preferred to wrap the scarf around her neck and stretch her legs close to the hotel. The voice is a working instrument and on an European tour, all care is important. In a Chinese little shop, she bought teas and other natural remedies. "I'm here in midsummer, but I'm all hooded, here is a very cold wind that hits my throat. And I'm not used to it", she says. 

Mart'nália try to take a bike, but feel the frozen wind and decided to protect her voice with a special magic tea in a small chinese shop

Photos: Denise Silveira

Mart'nália is one of the greatest artists in Brazil. Her name is a contraction of the names of her parents, Martinho da Vila, icon of national culture, and Anália Mendonça, singer. 2017 Latin Grammy winner, she was also successful as an actress playing a transgender man in a TV series, and her songs take part of the soap opera soundtracks.

Born in Vila Isabel, a stronghold of samba, today lives in Lagoa, postcard of Rio de Janeiro, where she makes sure to do almost everything by bike. In Dublin, it was impossible to talk to her without the interview being interrupted several times by Brazilians who recognized her and asked to take pictures, mostly selfies.

"Here's something new, right? I never came here, it's the first time. Well, it's always tasty, affectionate, right? I just found here the daughter of a friend I studied in the college entrance exam", says. Mart'nália enjoys the coincidence, takes everything in a good mood and laughs by making the analogy that the music goes on wind with no borders.

"Mart'nália sings Vinícius de Moraes" tour went through Ireland, Netherlands, France and Portugal. Vinicius' lyric poetry is familiar. Mart'nália met him in person. And remember that Martinho da Vila whistle songs of "Poetinha" that much, she thought musics were from her father. "Poetinha" is a nickname Vinícius got from Tom Jobim and it means "Little Poet".

In a "bossa nova" style, Mart'nália has been listening to Carla Bruni, partner in the record "Quelle grande sottise" the Brazilian "Insensatez" in the French version. An original idea from her manager Marcia Alvarez.

Mart'nália doesn't wear headphones while riding. As a good musician, she can't pay no attention to what happens within the whole song. And also for safety. "Unfortunately a lot of accidents happen, I even lost friends, like André". Double Bassist André Rodrigues died after being run over while riding at Aterro do Flamengo on Easter Sunday last year. The driver fled without assistance.

She misses a greater mobilization around the bicycle. "There could be a big Caloi (Brazilian Bicycle Manufacturer) campaign, whatever, you know? Even on the suburbs. It's a really cool thing. For health and not just health, you're not stuck in places. And maybe if you had a bigger bike campaign, then people would even stop stealing", she believes.

In Rio, as a good carioca, Mart'nália sometimes plays beach volleyball. But bike is a "Blessing Samba". In Ponte da Barca, Portugal, she took a greener bike tour. In Rotterdam, Netherlands, she posted a video on a social media, playing on the back of Rodrigo Delacroix, her sound engineer, whom she affectionately calls "Batata" (Potato). "Bike gives me more freedom than anything. I have bike, I have motorcycle more like bike, a little bit more modern. But I like bike",  ends with the last laugh.

And completely adapted to Dublin, she directs me to take the taxi on the right way because "here traffic is left hand side".

 
*Denise Silveira, 50, journalist and documentary filmmaker. Took part at Velo-city as a speaker at the "Media, Friend or Foe" panel. Honorable Mention at Mobifilm 2018, Brazilian Film Festival on Mobility and Traffic Safety, with the documentary "Ciclovia Musical".

Leia a versão em Português 

Read the first text about Velo-City 

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