Case Study: The Impact of the Musical Bikes in Montreal’s Cultural District

The Musical Bikes art installation, designed by studio Atracktiv, was presented at Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles during the Place aux jeux event. Interactive and unifying, it invites the public to pedal in unison on four bike-instruments to bring a complete song to life. This case study highlights the positive outcomes of this participatory experience by analyzing its accessibility, its ability to mobilize communities, and its impact on conviviality and collective life in an urban setting.

An installation that generates tangible impact

The Musical Bikes were designed to:

• Transform public space into a collective stage, where every participant becomes a musician by pedaling.

• Foster collaboration and play, with a complete song emerging when all four bike-instruments are activated together.

• Provide an accessible cultural experience that easily adapts to various urban and event contexts.

• Integrate seamlessly into any activation theme thanks to a customizable playlist.

Their creative approach integrates:

• Music: each bike embodies a distinct instrument, and the public can select a song to perform via a QR code.

• Playful interaction: a collective experience where physical effort is transformed into musical harmony.

• Compact design: the lightest installation in the catalog, combining logistical simplicity with strong collective appeal.

Thanks to its lightness and easy deployment, the Musical Bikes provide a practical solution that nevertheless leaves a strong and lasting impression on municipalities and their citizens.

Cultural, Social, and Economic Impacts

The presentation of the Musical Bikes on Sainte-Catherine pedestrian street generated concrete outcomes:

• Revitalization of public space: the installation transformed an urban area into an interactive and participatory stage.

• Strengthening social ties: by encouraging participants to pedal together to create a complete song.

• Thematic adaptability: the customizable playlist, selected via QR code, allows the installation to integrate into any cultural or event program.

• Local visibility: by creating an original activity that attracts, engages, and mobilizes communities.

Thanks to their compact and customizable design, the Musical Bikes transform a simple thoroughfare into a moment of collective and festive sharing. This project demonstrates that an artistic installation can be both easy to deploy and capable of leaving a strong and lasting impression.