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Post by warlock^_^ on Jun 16, 2006 8:18:56 GMT 8
China orders cities to restore bike lanes lost to car boom
June 15, 2006 Updated 11:45pm (Mla time)
Associated Press
BEIJING -- Chinese cities that destroyed bike lanes to widen roads for cars or new buildings are being ordered to put the pathways back, the government said Thursday amid efforts to battle the choking smog and traffic brought on by booming car use.
Qiu Baoxing, a vice minister with the Ministry of Construction said it was important that China retain its title "kingdom of bicycles," according to a report by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Qiu told an urban planning conference in Beijing on Wednesday that the ministry was firmly opposed to the elimination of bicycle lanes and has ordered cities to restore them, Xinhua said.
The report estimated that China had 500 million bicycles in the late 1980s and said that the number had fallen dramatically as car ownership had expanded, but gave no specific figure.
The report cited Qiu as saying that the number of motor vehicles on China's roads in 2004 was 20 times that of 1978, with that number expected to increase as much as five fold by 2020. In 2004 there were 27 million motor vehicles in China and that number could reach 130 million in 15 years, he said.
Qiu's numbers appeared to include all motorized vehicles, including trucks, tractors and motorcycles, in addition to cars. The World Bank said in a report Wednesday that China had 16 million registered cars in 2004.
China's rapid expansion of car use has brought the country severe pollution, snarled traffic and frequent deadly road accidents. The leadership says that cleaning up the environment and saving energy is among the top priorities for the next five years.
On Tuesday, the government ordered civil servants to leave their cars at home and ride bikes or take public transport in a bid to reduce the choking smog that covers many Chinese cities and conserve energy.
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Post by joes on Jun 16, 2006 9:27:30 GMT 8
if petrol prices reach the 50s people are going to reconsider using their automobiles. w'lock, you're in japan right? i saw this feature on TV on how the japanese are dealing with the petrol crisis. pinoys should follow suit. depend less on petrol and we wouldn't feel the crunch.
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Post by cheenky on Jun 20, 2006 9:01:56 GMT 8
In Kenya, Bicycles Leave Taxis in the Dust Alana Herro – June 16, 2006 – 5:01am Bicycle taxis are rapidly supplanting gasoline-powered minibus taxis in parts of western Kenya, according to an April 26 report by Inter Press Service. Residents of Kisumu, a small city 500 kilometers from Nairobi, have long relied on the minibuses, or “matatus,” to get around. But as improvements in the bicycle industry lead to lower production costs, sales of the pedal-powered alternatives are booming. Kisumu’s bike taxi commuters can now cross town for half the price of a matatu ride, and they usually arrive at their destinations faster because the bicycles, known as “boda bodas,” maneuver through traffic more easily. The bikes also bring environmental benefits, including cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. And bicycle taxis offer a means of income for a larger share of the population, compared with the more capital-intensive and gasoline-dependent matatus. “I never, ever thought I could have my own company,” proclaimed one new bicycle taxi entrepreneur. “I am happy. My children are eating.” But as bicycles bring greater prosperity to their owners, local matatu businesses are struggling. Some drivers have attempted to survive by courting a niche market of people traveling to Nairobi; others have decided to sell their vehicles and buy their own bicycles. The bikes do have drawbacks, however: many cyclists are hit and killed by reckless motorists. Bike taxis also favor the strong and able, as cyclists rely on their own power to transport several times their body weight. Interest in bicycle transport is growing across Africa as companies seek to design high-quality yet affordable bikes, and as government policies promote their use. In Ghana, bike sales now stand at about 30 per 1,000 people, roughly 50 percent higher than in China, a much wealthier country. But China remains the world’s largest bicycle producer, accounting for some 58 percent of the world total. Worldwide, bike production has grown steadily in recent years, with more than 100 million units manufactured annually. www.worldwatch.org/node/3970
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Post by cheenky on Jun 20, 2006 9:04:44 GMT 8
Here's an interesting story how bicycle use got popular in Africa : www.itdp.org/STe/ste19/africa.html "ITDP created the California Bike in 2003 to test these (African)markets. ITDP’s technical team, working in partnership with Trek and Sram, developed the six-speed “California Bike – Los Angeles” for this market niche. The production was competitively bid and the Giant factory in Shanghai won the tender because it had a reputation for high quality. "
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Post by markymarciano on Jun 27, 2006 19:31:21 GMT 8
its really better if we all can ride our bike to work, goin to banks and other destinations, but the biggest factor that we should look into is public safety ,our safety..
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Post by jakecastle on Jun 27, 2006 22:43:55 GMT 8
The biggest, most cost effective solution yet to be undertaken by goverment is to educate drivers that we cyclists have the right to the road.
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Post by mtbrider06 on Dec 12, 2006 19:25:33 GMT 8
If we will gather the TAXES paid by WORKING BIKERS to the gov't it is enough to have BIKER's Lane in Metro Mla. Hope somebody from the authorities hear us and consider this very good proposal.
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mzmn
Free Rider
elo?
Posts: 251
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Post by mzmn on Jan 22, 2007 11:04:09 GMT 8
Bike lanes are a great idea. Along with efficient mass transport systems, like the MRT/LRT, it's considered as a requirement in the many developed countries.
By creating bike lanes, we're encouraging people to take an alternative form of transport. This involves not just construction but plans regarding enforcement, maintenance and education also. As mentioned before, other motor vehicles may takeover these lanes, as seen in Xavierville. Given our weather, this project should include plans for maintenance. To prevent squatting onto these lanes by vendors and the such, teaching people what these lanes are for and what benefit they provide will go a long way to preserving these routes.
I'm mentioning these because like most projects, plans only include construction. It's just build it and leave it alone. Bike associations that are going to be involved in this proposal should remember that it's only one step to build it, enforcement, maintenance and education should also be part of the plans.
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cabalen
Newbie
Just ride!!!
Posts: 33
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Post by cabalen on Feb 17, 2007 9:06:35 GMT 8
This is what they have in Munich, Germany - bike lanes ALL over the place that look like side walks. When I visit, I always have to be concious since I tend to get run over from bikes more than cars. Everyone there rides a bike!
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Owie
Urban Assaulter
URBAN RAIDO
Posts: 95
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Post by Owie on Mar 13, 2007 16:11:49 GMT 8
I've been biking along in the Marikina malanday area, and was really good to know that there were bike lanes every main road. But it was sad to say that I noticed that there are other jeepneys were occupying on it, I hope that the MMDA will also make bike lanes in the other areas of Metro Manila.
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vester2
Lurker
Chiken Legs
Posts: 18
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Post by vester2 on Mar 13, 2007 16:44:16 GMT 8
The bike lanes are great! Marikina is the way to go! Hopefully BF gets it done around the METRO also!!! Pedal for a cleaner AIR!!!!
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Post by Onie on Apr 14, 2007 11:24:27 GMT 8
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Post by yukon on Apr 14, 2007 14:56:00 GMT 8
I love Bikin' In Marikina...did that this noon with Uphiller and Japhett. I was the only one using the Bike lanes the two guys from Marikina weren't using 'em. Hmphh . ;D ;D ;D
Nice for Fernando to provide such, makes you feel safe.
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Post by Onie on Apr 14, 2007 20:46:02 GMT 8
I love Bikin' In Marikina...did that this noon with Uphiller and Japhett. I was the only one using the Bike lanes the two guys from Marikina weren't using 'em. Hmphh . ;D ;D ;D Nice for Fernando to provide such, makes you feel safe. Well, consider yourself -- a law abiding citizen of the Philip-Pines, LoL! ;D The only negative I can come up with "is there aren't enough of us" know that's not what your looking for. Waldo's perfect world. Right here. Ride safe, everyone!
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Post by pitbiker on May 27, 2007 14:07:46 GMT 8
I love Bikin' In Marikina...did that this noon with Uphiller and Japhett. I was the only one using the Bike lanes the two guys from Marikina weren't using 'em. Hmphh . ;D ;D ;D Nice for Fernando to provide such, makes you feel safe. Well, consider yourself -- a law abiding citizen of the Philip-Pines, LoL! ;D The only negative I can come up with "is there aren't enough of us" know that's not what your looking for. Waldo's perfect world. Right here. Ride safe, everyone! Nice one On1e.. hahahha how how I wish this will come true. But the fact still remains that there are still a lot who use bike lanes as it were to be a non-bike lane which would be dangerous. So in any other cases ride safely.
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kawen
Bike Commuter
girl power
Posts: 52
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Post by kawen on Jun 25, 2007 12:30:01 GMT 8
i have always taken pride on the fact that the city where i live in (marikina) is bike friendly by having bike lanes. but on 2 occassions na, ironically, i almost always seem to get in minor mishaps with jeep and cab while using the bike lane. perhaps some (or most?) public utility drivers really doesnt have much respect for cyclists. such a shame. sad. sad. sad. waaaah!
the weird thing is, in san mateo and montalban and further east rides (where there are no bike lanes) --- i generally have smooth and stress free road experience.hmmmm....
i have always made a conscious effort when bike riding to ride safely and defensively --- but i have come to accept the fact in biking when s*&% happens, it's gonna happen.
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Post by g.b.b on Sept 28, 2007 23:53:56 GMT 8
just another topic that made us think..... can we stop talking and start walking?
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Nards
XC Rider
In mountainbiking, skill is the great equalizer.
Posts: 149
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Post by Nards on Sept 29, 2007 3:46:07 GMT 8
as of today Sep-07, bike lanes in Manila remain a dream...
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Post by gadgets88 on Sept 29, 2007 8:40:43 GMT 8
From the Commuter Express (Metro Manila's Favorite Free Paper) Sept. 27, 2007, page 7.
The title of the article was: "Bisikleta, gustong i-ban sa Macapagal Boulevard" (Biking itching to be banned in Macapagal Boulevard)
Translating loosely the contents of the article, it said something like:
The MMDA will ultimately go into a squabble with the Pasay City Government. The MMDA is pushing for the establishment of a "bike lane" in the city. The Pasay City government, however, wanted biking banned in Macapagal blvd due to the risks to bikers. The incidence of a 16-yr-old biker last Tuesday involved in a vehicular accident drives point of his argument. The biker died.
Based on the investigation, the victim died instantly at the scene, somewhere in the corner of EDSA and Macapagal Blvd.
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Post by polpan on Oct 1, 2007 16:29:14 GMT 8
NINGAS-KUGON!!!!! i hate politic-promises.....
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tutubing kalye
Urban Assaulter
daddy, paglaki ko akin nalang bike mo ha?
Posts: 96
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Post by tutubing kalye on Oct 1, 2007 20:19:25 GMT 8
I saw an MMDA billboard along the center island near PhilCOA announcing the planned (or is it ongoing?) expansion of Don Mariano Marcos/Commonwealth Ave. Mentioned was the supposed establishment of bike lanes along said road... Sana naman matuloy 'to 'no!!! (hoping this project materialize)
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Post by g.b.b on Oct 2, 2007 2:54:37 GMT 8
I saw an MMDA billboard along the center island near PhilCOA announcing the planned (or is it ongoing?) expansion of Don Mariano Marcos/Commonwealth Ave. Mentioned was the supposed establishment of bike lanes along said road... Sana naman matuloy 'to 'no!!! (hoping this project materialize) i believe it's on going....... i've seen in the news that they demolish houses, PNP stations, barangay halls, stalls and anything that i blocking the project......... so i guess it's on going....... what's up with the road widening project? is there a bike lane proposal?
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tutubing kalye
Urban Assaulter
daddy, paglaki ko akin nalang bike mo ha?
Posts: 96
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Post by tutubing kalye on Oct 2, 2007 5:13:44 GMT 8
I saw an MMDA billboard along the center island near PhilCOA announcing the planned (or is it ongoing?) expansion of Don Mariano Marcos/Commonwealth Ave. Mentioned was the supposed establishment of bike lanes along said road... Sana naman matuloy 'to 'no!!! (hoping this project materialize) i believe it's on going....... i've seen in the news that they demolish houses, PNP stations, barangay halls, stalls and anything that i blocking the project......... so i guess it's on going....... what's up with the road widening project? is there a bike lane proposal? appparently there was a proposal submitted during the time MMDA launched the Xavierville/Kamias bike lanes. Question is how these bike lanes will be managed (to the interest of cyclists) after launching. The pessimist in me suggests it will suffer the same fate as the xavierville/Kamias project. I still believe though that we cyclists can contribute in the information/education of fellow road-users. Sayang din naman un project, Commonwealth Ave. being the first major bikelane project that would benefit a lot of "X-City Riders"
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