Cinatı: Get Out of the Car, Get On the Bike
42:07 min | TR -EN
Cinati tells in a realistic language the story of Critical Mass cyclists who dreamed of a livable city and who came together and took action in many cities of the world for this purpose.
Film Crew
Project Development: Benian Kara, Nur Bardakçı, Cahit Binici, Çiğdem Zeytin, Uğur Cuya
Music: Zeytin - İsyan
Producers: Nur Bardakçı, Uğur Cuya
Director: Uğur Cuya
Cinatı" is a documentary that chronicles the powerful story of Critical Mass cyclists in Turkey—individuals who share a vision of a livable city and take collective action to turn this ideal into reality.
Filmed over a journey of approximately 3,500 kilometers traveled entirely by bicycle, this film presents the bike not merely as a mode of transportation, but as a lifestyle and a potent catalyst for social change.
The Critical Mass movement is globally recognized for its mass cycling events designed to draw attention to urban traffic issues and advocate for sustainable transport. This documentary is woven with real-life stories from the pioneers and participants of the movement in Turkey, showcasing individuals who strive to enhance cycling culture and the quality of urban life in their respective cities.
By highlighting the economic, environmental, and social benefits of bicycle commuting, the documentary encourages viewers to discover the power of the pedal and explore alternative solutions to urban mobility challenges. "Cinatı" invites the audience on an inspiring journey, demonstrating that the bicycle is far more than a tool for sport; it is a vital instrument for social transformation and a fundamental part of a livable urban vision.
The City, Chaos, and a Two-Wheeled Resistance: Cinatı
Modern cities have devolved into a gridlocked chaos of traffic where commuting means hours of waiting amidst suffocating piles of concrete. As a search for an alternative solution to this distorted mindset—where roads are seized from pedestrians and "lent" to motor vehicles—Cinatı draws its name from the Ottoman Empire's first encounter with the bicycle. At the time, they believed this mysterious, self-balancing machine was a "horse held upright by jinns" (spirits).
While the documentary reminds us that the true masters of the road are humans, not vehicles, it centers on the stories of those who see the bicycle not as a status symbol, but as a tool for reclaiming freedom and time—spanning from the "cancerous" urban sprawl of Maslak to the steep hills of Izmir.
"Cinati" is a documentary that tells the impressive story of Critical Mass cyclists in Turkey, who dream of a livable city around the world and come together and take action in line with this ideal.
This film, shot by traveling a total of approximately 10,000 km on a bicycle, presents the bicycle as a lifestyle and tool of social change beyond just a means of transportation.
The Critical Mass movement is known for mass bicycle rides organized around the world to draw attention to traffic problems in cities and promote sustainable transportation. This documentary is full of real-life stories compiled from the pioneers and participants of this movement in Criticalmass Turkey. Each of them tells about the cycling culture in their city and the people who struggle to improve the quality of life in the city.
Emphasizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of bicycle transportation, the documentary encourages the audience to discover the power of the bicycle and find alternative solutions to transportation problems in cities. Cinati invites viewers on an inspiring journey that shows how the bicycle is not just a means of sport, but also plays an important role as a tool of social change and part of the vision of a livable city.
Impact-Driven Cinema and a Journey Toward a Shared Future
This documentary is more than just storytelling; it is a chronicle of a 3,500-kilometer journey extending from Turkey to Tehran, Iran, and a record of a bureaucratic evolution unfolding on two wheels. Through examples of participatory democracy, such as the Bicycle Unit established within the Kadıköy Municipality, the film serves as an impact production model, demonstrating how challenges in the public sphere can be transformed into positive outcomes.
Acting as a vital resource for cycling enthusiasts, urban planners, and activists, this work stands as an open invitation for new projects, festival frameworks, and social-artistic movements that share a similar vision for the future.
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Acknowledgements
There is an extensive list of individuals and organizations whose solidarity and contributions made the production of the documentary "Cinatı" possible. We extend our deepest gratitude to those who supported us on this journey: Ender Cebeci, Engin Endini Aygün, Serhat Kaşkaya, Kenan Demir, İlkcan Gülmez, Muratcan Akpunar, Emine Akpunar, 700binkm, Başak Bulut, Emirhan Kılıç, Özlem Özgür Arıkan, Muhlis Dilmaç, Hüseyin Karaman, the Kaytan Family, Teoman Şenol, Nilüfer Ulucan, Ozan Yılmaz, Emine Pür Aktürk, Burcu Başaran, İrem Çağıl, Ersin Soylu, and Belgin Abla.
Furthermore, the support of various platforms was instrumental in bringing this project to life. We would like to thank the Critical Mass communities, especially those in Istanbul, Eskişehir, İzmir, Ankara, Manisa, and Bergama, as well as:
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Dikili Cycling Club
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Bergama Active Cyclists
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Alakır River Brotherhood
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Pegai Cycling Platform
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Bicycle Transportation Platform (BUP)
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Bicycle Transportation Development Platform (BUGEP)
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Karşı Bisiklet
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Bicycle Courier
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Yalova Thursday Night Cyclists
Our heartfelt thanks go to our families, who bought us our first bicycles as children and encouraged us to go; to all the Critical Mass participants who paved the way with their courage; to those who will pedal in the future; and to all the "aunts" who—regardless of the country—asked with that unchanging, heartfelt sincerity: "Don't your legs get tired, my dear?"
Finally, we offer a thousand thanks to everyone who contributed and provided hope during this journey, which began in Istanbul on November 27, 2017, and was completed by bicycle through Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.