Zen and the art of bicycle maintenance

Here is the commentary that I read to kick off the May 29th show:

When I was in Ghana last year, I traveled to the northern part of the country to deliver some workshops on journalism.

At a community radio station in a small town, a reporter asked me what kinds of stories they should be covering.

In Ghana, as in Canada, media outlets largely focus on politics and business. Elected officials and business people, here and there, get most of the ink and hog the airwaves.

I told them to speak more with everyday people. Talk to them about the things they do that are interesting, creative and contribute something to the community.

When we left the station after the workshop was over, a scene across the street caught my eye. There were a couple of kids riding a makeshift wagon, surrounded by five or six others, impatient for a ride themselves.

I walked across the street to have a closer look. It was a bike and auto repair shop. Old parts and half-built motorcycles and cars were scattered around the yard. The kids were riding this little wagon that looked like it had been built with spare parts.

The kids kept laughing and hollering; they took no notice of us, even though Westerners rarely visited this remote community.

A man emerged from the shop, smiling and hand extended in greeting.

He told us he made stuff like this for the kids in the neighbourhood.

No Wal-marts or Toys R Us here. If you want toys, you make them yourself. Needless to say, this guy was the hit of the neighbourhood.

I thought of him today when I met Paul Reeves. He’s known as the “bicycle man” in his north end neighbourhood for the cycles he fashions out of old bikes and spare parts.

He has an exhibition of his bikes at the Saint John Arts Centre. It’s called “Reecycles.” We’ll talk with Paul on tonight’s show.

Also on show: we’ll speak with Ashley Durdle, who won the Aliant Business Plan competition with her idea for The Happy Hopyard.

But first up: the rise and fall of the Loyalist City Music Festival.