1/2 Lonneke is suddenly the example of how to cycle (photos: Lonneke Vermeulen).
The phone from Lonneke Vermeulen (29) from Veghel has been red hot for a few days. Not because she is recognized from a life -size statue of her that has been put down in the village, but because there is quite a fuss about it. According to Veilig Verkeer Nederland, the image is life -threatening. And that is widely measured in the national press. “You can worry about something,” Lonneke says laughing.
Since the beginning of May there has been a life -size statue of her along the F50 fast bike route between Veghel and Uden. Her image is sitting with the arms in the air on the bike, something she did not think of herself, but the artist. According to Florentijn Hofman, freedom and happiness should portray, but Safe Verkeer Nederland (VVN) believes that Lonneke provokes reckless driving.
She can laugh about it herself. “I think the fuss is really nonsense,” says Lonneke. “It is really not that people see this image and therefore the whole society is upset. People really are not going to cycle with loose hands through that image of me.”
“I can’t even cycle loose.”
When she signed up to be a model, she did not think she would be a bad example. “I no longer know the motivation I had sent in, but that wasn’t” hands loose, “she laughs. “I can’t even do that and I have never done that. Florentine By the way, I held my bike when I stood up with my arms. Because of course it did not stand at that time. “
The statue was already revealed more than two weeks ago, but after an article from De Telegraaf containing the criticism, it is suddenly national news. “People are apparently really worried about this,” says Lonneke. “Is this the worst thing that is going on?”
“” I hope that people can think a bit logically. “
VVN hopes that people understand that the artwork is not a call to cycle recklessly. Lonneke laughs. “I hope that people can think a bit logically.”
Since a few days there is even a plasticized paper on the image with ‘Lonneke has no teeth, she cycled without hands’. Lonneke has to laugh hard again. “Why do people take the time for that?”
