OCT Talks to: Jonathan Sauceda
Jonathan Sauceda is an avid bike enthusiast who’s been riding “seriously” for the past 10 years. He is a student at New World World School of the arts, works at a bike shop and hangs out frequently at the bike co-op across from The Corner. Jonathan’s the force behind the Miami bicycle tournament known as !Cañones Sueltos! (Loose Cannons!) which is an “anything goes” style race/scavenger hunt.
OurCityThoughts: What challenges do you see Miami facing in the near future?
Jonathan Sauceda: Public transportation is one of Miami’s biggest problems... When I was in Chicago this past summer, I saw bike lanes everywhere and a lot of commuters. Like when it’s six o’clock, everyone would get out of work and there’s just lines of bikers.
It’s also pretty dangerous out here, in Miami, for bikers. The hit and run laws in Florida are horrible.
OCT: What is one thing that you think would make Miami closer to your ideal city?
JS: I think if we could get decobikes in downtown it would be great for the city. It would allow people to not have to be caged in their cars while they move through downtown. When you’re on a bike it’s much easier to say “what’s up” to someone, and you see all kinds of different destinations. When I pass by places that look cool, I’m like “oh, I gotta come back here later.” If something isn’t established it’s harder for people to try new things out, so having the decobikes easily available helps people get into the biking community.
OCT: What do you love about Miami?
JS: Because it’s so beautiful out here! It’s not so crammed with buildings like some big cities, and the weather lets you ride your bike year round. You can have a kind of islander lifestyle... There’s lots of potential too, since we haven’t fully developed. We’re still figuring out what we are, so there’s room to start something new.
OCT: Why do you set up the !Cañones Sueltos! every month?
JS: People get into things for the wrong reasons sometimes, you have to do it because you love it and because you’re trying to build friendships with people. I’m just organizing the race because I go to (art) school, so I know how to make flyers and bring people together, and its fun. At the end of the day it’s stressful to organize, but it’s worth it.
You can find out how to join the Loose Cannons! race and other bicycle related stuff at PACELINE Urban Racing
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