infonews.co.nz
INDEX
CYCLING

Musicians demand cycling on the Harbour Bridge

Thursday 26 November 2009, 5:07PM

By GetAcross

1266 views

On The Harbour Bridge
On The Harbour Bridge Credit: GetAcross

AUCKLAND

“Let us cycle on the Harbour Bridge” is the catchy chorus to an Auckland band’s music video being released today. Inspired by the GetAcross bridge protest six months ago, the music video asks for access across the Bridge as part of the National Cycleway.

Musician Karsten Schwardt lives on Auckland's North Shore and usually cycles to work in Parnell via the Birkenhead ferry. After taking part in the bridge protest in May 2009, he wrote the song 'Cycling On The Harbour Bridge' and recorded it with the help of The Electric Era band members Brignall Wood, Taneth Peel and David Chechelashvili.

A music video in support of the GetAcross campaign featuring the song and original footage of the bridge walk followed soon after. The video was produced by Karsten; camera work by Karsten, Sam Kiwan and Andy Smith.

GetAcross spokesman Bevan Woodward says, “This song is fantastic and the music video is great fun. The GetAcross campaign is entirely run by Auckland volunteers. Here’s another great example of that generous support. It reinforces how important the Bridge walk/cycleway is. Now that we have a technical and funding solution, we’ll be working hard to see it built.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXxqApsFMNI

A DVD with a high-quality recording is available from Karsten. 

www.getacross.org.nz 

 

Background

The Electric Era releases their third album 'Too Many Damaged Heroes' in December. While the Harbour Bridge song is not on the album, it will feature in the live set performed during the album release party on 8th December at the Juice Bar in Parnell. The music video to ‘Cycling On The Harbour Bridge’ will be available on DVD during the show as well as via The Electric Era website, with proceeds going towards the GetAcross campaign for a cycle and walkway on Auckland’s Harbour Bridge.

www.theelectricera.com


Lyrics

Cycling on the Harbour Bridge

and for cars the lights are green but for cyclists they are red
when they want to cross the harbour bridge in Auckland NZ
and for cars the bridge is free but a cyclist has it bad
they are made to pay the pricey ferry service instead

let us cycle on the harbour bridge right now
let us cycle on the harbour bridge every day
let's go cycling on the harbour bridge

it's an icon to the world but it only carries cars
if you want to travel differently you won't get very far
we have waited thirty years to get across from the north shore
but the transport agency wants to make it thirty more

let us cycle on the harbour bridge right now
let us cycle on the harbour bridge every day
let's go cycling on the harbour bridge

cycling is a fine pursuit taking pressure off the roads
but what is the use if we can't go where we need to go
ferries are a nice idea but on weekends and at night
they don't really help a person who's reliant on a bike

let us cycle on the harbour bridge right now
let us cycle on the harbour bridge every day
let's go cycling on the harbour bridge

Johnny twisted Billy's arm for a national cycleway
where is that supposed to go if not across the harbour bridge
every city in the world looks for traffic flow to improve
here in Auckland we're just too afraid that we might actually move

let us cycle on the harbour bridge right now
let us cycle on the harbour bridge every day
let's go cycling on the harbour bridge you and me
let's go cycling on the harbour bridge