Somebody’s Aunt shows that e-scooters are for everyone
Canberra dance group, Somebody’s Aunt, was commissioned by Localjinni – an artist-run collective – to create a video for their Scoot and Screen tours. The project received funding through the Community Zero Emissions Grants.
The artistic director for Somebody’s Aunt, Jane Ingall, and Localjinni founder, Fiona Hooton, envisioned a work addressing the barriers to active travel and e-mobility that women and older people experience.
After the video was premiered on Localjinni’s Scoot and Screen tours, it was shared on social media and attracted positive commentary from around the globe.
The challenge
“Older people and women experience real and perceived barriers to using public transport, e-mobility and active travel, especially at night,” said Jane.
“When Localjinni commissioned us to make a work for their tours, we decided to make something that could help vulnerable members of our community feel empowered and safe to use e-scooters.
“The benefit of making a video as opposed to a standalone performance is that a video is a semi-permanent digital artefact that can be viewed by a wide audience, anytime from anywhere and can be easily shared through social media.
The action
“Our tagline for the video was “scoot not pollute” and coming up with it was just the start of the fun!
“Neuron Mobility generously provided us with free use of their e-scooters for three months, as well giving all Scoot and Screen tour participants a free ride.
“The process of planning, choreographing, filming and compiling the video involved scooting around town exploring different locations and thinking about how to deliver our message.
“While the video is with whimsy and playfulness, it is not at all a gimmick. We consider it an eco-feminist public art intervention, an advocacy opportunity for active travel and a fun way to improve inclusion and safety in the city at night-time.
“Our video promotes the environmental benefits and public safety aspects of scooters and, most importantly, that anybody can do it! Older women, too, can have fun in the city, day and night, and enjoy the freedoms of micro mobility.
The benefit
“We have now been riding e-scooters for the past 3 months and are totally hooked. The large standing deck and big wheels make riding e-scooters easy and stable to ride. They are a clean transport option and have been a safe socially distanced way to travel during the pandemic.
“E-scooters are undoubtedly improving night-time city access. The Follow My Ride feature is a great way to improve safety when riding alone or at night, particularly for younger women.
“Our video, Aunts on Scooters, was premiered on Localjinni’s Scoot and Screen tours at the Dynamo-Hub Festival. Feedback was really positive with many people saying after participating in the event that they’d like to use e-transport, such as scooters, more often.
“The video went further than we thought it would when Neuron (who provided the e-scooters for our project) shared it on its Australian and international Instagram pages to mark International Women’s Day.
“Electric scooters, powered in the ACT by electricity from renewable energy, are a good environmental choice. Scoot, it's a hoot!”
Localjinni’s Dynamo-Hub Festival and Scoot and Screen tours were supported by a Community Zero Emissions Grant.
Watch the Aunt's on Scooters video.
Watch the Dynamo Hub Festival showreel.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.