https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u8ZvyXXa6Y&feature=youtu.be
BICYCLING TEHRAN
From the Former US Embassy to the University of Tehran
April 2019, 21 min
see movie
I was not only riding against the traffic but also non stop filming. This non-tourist behavior could have landed me in detention and easily exposed me as a double national. I could have been joined the pool of detained US citizens in Iran serving as collateral in US-IRAN negotiations which are not really going anywhere.
Bicycling specific significant points in significant places started in 2003 with Damascus and a test run in Tirana, Albania just after the state evaporated from a hard core form of Stalinism.
Bicycling between specific significant points in significant places started in 2003 with Damascus and a test run in Tirana, Albania just after the state evaporated from a hard core form of Stalinism.
I got this city-mapping by bicycling-against-oncoming- traffic idea watching the 2001 Afghan war coverage on cable news in NYC only a few blocks from their network headquarters in midtown. CNN showed a map entitled NEXT TARGETS and highlighted the countries IRAQ, IRAN and SYRIA. The Fox News series CROSSHAIR inspired me to hold the camera in a way that I allows me to film behind the handle bar mimicking the effect of a targeting cross hair.
From a still dominating American perspective the taking of hostages by Tehran students who marched from the university to the US embassy in Tehran was very significant. This might have cost president Carter his reelection. He was losing to Ronal Reagan who started a shift in US republican politics that still resonates in Donald Trump.
2019 marks the 40th anniversary of this student organized event that shaped international politics and the life of Iranians to this day.
Usually, I do this filming without holding the handle bar but this lend bicycle was not in proper shape and I could led go of the handle bar only at certain speed. When I was noticed by the police or other security personal I changed from the one way line to the side walk. I also didn't wanna pass parking police vehicles observing me filming coming their way and resorted to the sidewalk. Nonetheless most of the trip was made on the left lane going the opposite direction.
Tehran traffic is the most dangerous thing I 've seen. On the curved highway fright behindd Tehran's airport a ghost driver came on the fast inner lane aainst the traffic directly on our line which could have cost our life. Traffic lights are mostly blinking, turned off or ignored. Bicyclists or pedestrians are paid little or no respect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u8ZvyXXa6Y&feature=youtu.be
BICYCLING TEHRAN
From the Former US Embassy to the University of Tehran
April 2019, 21 min
see movie
see video
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