The Bike With 2 Brains

During my first Burning Man experience in 2004, I found myself alone a lot of the time. I found that although I'm pretty good at meeting new people, and good at the art of conversing, that moment of first contact is still a challenge. That moment is much easier if there is a catalyst — a common observation, or a shared activity, for instance.

While I was there, I felt compelled to give something back to the community. I conceived of the idea of creating "The Bike With 2 Brains," a vehicle intended to foster social interaction. The mechanical concept is simple: two riders propel a vehicle by pedaling independent wheels mounted side-by-side, thereby allowing it to be differentially steered like a bulldozer — to go straight, both riders must pedal at the same rate. The rear wheels will caster freely to allow the front wheels to steer.

Using sight and sound as a lure, I expect it to draw curious individuals. The vehicle will be inviting for someone to explore on their own, and sitting alone next to the empty seat is a catalyst to initiate conversation with others. Also, from this vantage point, they may feel empowered to seek others when they ordinarily would not have done so (i.e. yelling at people.)

The Bike With 2 Brains offers people a unique experience to share. Once two riders are situated, they'll need to determine where they want to go since both riders contribute to the direction of travel, and therein lies the twist.

If the riders agree on a destination, they will have an experience where their symbiotic behaviors quickly get them to their destination. If they disagree, one rider may concede and help bring the other to their destination as a "gift of work" which cannot be directly reciprocated (the conceding rider needs to find a different individual to help them get to where they wanted to go.) Alternatively, a rider may concede and then be able to experience something they would not have realized otherwise — fostering an experience of exploration.

It will be amusing to watch riders who fail to come to agreement and where neither rider concedes.

Would you look at that? My project sitting out on the Playa.

On June 17, 2008 I killed the Bike With 2 Brains.

I've been dragging it to exhibitions and to Burning Man for the last 4 years. It never felt the same as that first year. The reason slowly materialized: I didn't set it free. The first time I brought it to Burning Man, I let it have an adventure on its own by letting people take it wherever they wanted. But on all subsequent exhibitions, I kept it close by. It was a difficult, harrowing experience to try and find it after that first year and I didn't want to repeat it. It would have been possible to add a tracking device, but in a way, I don't think even that would have been satisfying.

So it's been dying a slow, painful death. I killed its soul when I brought it out for the second time and didn't let it run free. It's looked sadder and sadder ever since — going from an experience to a toy. Of course, that's all it really was in the first place: an elaborate toy, but in that initial presentation, I made it art. As egotistical as it seems, I fully believe that to be true. It was a unique, experiential art project that I made.

I couldn't just throw it away — nor could I sell it. I couldn't even give it away — for to whom?: only to someone who would let it live again. I didn't really know what to do with it. I kept meeting people who wanted to see it and I'd occasionally trot it out to show them. The only real exception was my friend Sondra who advised to turn it into something else. Unlike other projects or products, I had a hard time seeing the Bike With 2 Brains as anything but the Bike With 2 Brains. It really permeated my perspective.

I finally decided to step up to the plate. I got out the Sawzall and took one last picture. I said, "goodbye, old friend" and started cutting.

Pieces of its corpse still haunt my garage and basement, but it's all on its way to becoming something else. The seat will be a "portable" loveseat — kind of like a heavy patio furniture that I can bring to Burning Man. One of the front wheels and the back wheel are going to become a rear-steered tricycle — sort of an adult Big Wheels.

As my friend Tony says, "everything is on its way to being something else".

Would you look at that? My project sitting out on the Playa.