Post by seacid on Nov 6, 2007 7:00:12 GMT 8
By Jeannette Andrade, Phil. Daily INQUIRER, September 30, 2007, Page A19 www.inquirer.net
A LITTLE RAIN WON’T STOP US
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With this battle cry, some 30 members of the Firefly Brigade—a group of environmentalists pushing for bicycles as the primary mode of transportation to clean up the air—commemorated World Car-Free Day in Quezon City on Sept. 22 despite a light downpour.
World Car-Free Day is an annual environmental event organized in the 1970s amid the oil crisis. Every Sept. 22, people all over the world organize events that show what life would be like without motorized vehicles.
Rosar Crisostomo, a professor of the Ateneo de Manila University who is a member of the brigade, told the Inquirer that they also want to show to everyone that riding a bike is a very good way of going around the city.
So despite the rainy weather which lasted the entire day and the curious stares they got from motorists on Edsa, the “fireflies” went on a 25-km bikathon which took them around the metropolis.
From the Bike City shop in Cubao, the brigade members cruised on P. Tuazon Street, Edsa, Connecticut Street, Ortigas Avenue, N. Domingo Street, Doña Hemady Street, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, E. Lopez Street, Quezon Avenue, North Avenue, Agham Road, East Avenue, V. Luna Road, Kalayaan Avenue and Ermin Garcia Street.
Unlike the group’s annual “Tour of the Fireflies,” the riders did not have lespu escorts this time.
“We move with the traffic and stay on the right side of the road. This is not like the Tour of the Fireflies where we had escorts. We are going to ride like ordinary cyclists,” Crisostomo said.
The World Car-Free Day bikathon covers only half of the 50-km fireflies tour.
According to Crisostomo, only experienced bicycle riders were allowed to join because of the lack of escorts and the inclement weather. “People who join this ride are used to riding. They are experienced riders. We do not allow children to participate in this kind of activity,” he said.
As they rode around the metropolis, the fireflies handed out flyers that read: “Bike to work, bike to school, bike to play, bike today! Join the World Car-Free Day! Put some fun between your legs and take a break from high oil prices, traffic jams, and dirty air! On Saturday, Sept. 22, bicycles take to the streets of Metro Manila to show what roads could be without the noise and bustle of cars!”
There were also flyers that encouraged the public to “Help clean our city’s air!” and suggested bike riding as an alternative, pointing out that “a third of trips taken in the city are shorter than two kilometers and add to both traffic congestion and pollution.”
“Use our cars less. Save money, energy and time to avoid stress and cause less pollution!” other flyers said.
Ernesto San Juan, Araneta Center chief security officer, told the Inquirer that they have always accommodated bicycle riders in the area as long as they wear the basic bicycle uniform complete with safety gadgets and follow traffic rules and regulations.
“We have provided areas in Araneta Center where bikers who are properly dressed can bike on Time Square and Center avenues,” San Juan said, adding that bike racks have also been installed in those areas.
Allowing bicycle riders in the vicinity, he said, is part of their environment-friendly measures, including planting trees and encouraging recycling.
San Juan added that they have always been supportive of the activities of the Firefly Brigade.
The car-free day tour ended at the Marikina Shoe Expo in Cubao, a suitable finish line. Marikina was the first which took steps to become a bike-friendly city, providing bicycle lanes, routes and bicycle racks for its constituents.
Next year, the brigade hopes to expand its advocacy beyond Metro Manila to other cities nationwide through its annual Tour of the Fireflies.
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A LITTLE RAIN WON’T STOP US
=========================
With this battle cry, some 30 members of the Firefly Brigade—a group of environmentalists pushing for bicycles as the primary mode of transportation to clean up the air—commemorated World Car-Free Day in Quezon City on Sept. 22 despite a light downpour.
World Car-Free Day is an annual environmental event organized in the 1970s amid the oil crisis. Every Sept. 22, people all over the world organize events that show what life would be like without motorized vehicles.
Rosar Crisostomo, a professor of the Ateneo de Manila University who is a member of the brigade, told the Inquirer that they also want to show to everyone that riding a bike is a very good way of going around the city.
So despite the rainy weather which lasted the entire day and the curious stares they got from motorists on Edsa, the “fireflies” went on a 25-km bikathon which took them around the metropolis.
From the Bike City shop in Cubao, the brigade members cruised on P. Tuazon Street, Edsa, Connecticut Street, Ortigas Avenue, N. Domingo Street, Doña Hemady Street, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, E. Lopez Street, Quezon Avenue, North Avenue, Agham Road, East Avenue, V. Luna Road, Kalayaan Avenue and Ermin Garcia Street.
Unlike the group’s annual “Tour of the Fireflies,” the riders did not have lespu escorts this time.
“We move with the traffic and stay on the right side of the road. This is not like the Tour of the Fireflies where we had escorts. We are going to ride like ordinary cyclists,” Crisostomo said.
The World Car-Free Day bikathon covers only half of the 50-km fireflies tour.
According to Crisostomo, only experienced bicycle riders were allowed to join because of the lack of escorts and the inclement weather. “People who join this ride are used to riding. They are experienced riders. We do not allow children to participate in this kind of activity,” he said.
As they rode around the metropolis, the fireflies handed out flyers that read: “Bike to work, bike to school, bike to play, bike today! Join the World Car-Free Day! Put some fun between your legs and take a break from high oil prices, traffic jams, and dirty air! On Saturday, Sept. 22, bicycles take to the streets of Metro Manila to show what roads could be without the noise and bustle of cars!”
There were also flyers that encouraged the public to “Help clean our city’s air!” and suggested bike riding as an alternative, pointing out that “a third of trips taken in the city are shorter than two kilometers and add to both traffic congestion and pollution.”
“Use our cars less. Save money, energy and time to avoid stress and cause less pollution!” other flyers said.
Ernesto San Juan, Araneta Center chief security officer, told the Inquirer that they have always accommodated bicycle riders in the area as long as they wear the basic bicycle uniform complete with safety gadgets and follow traffic rules and regulations.
“We have provided areas in Araneta Center where bikers who are properly dressed can bike on Time Square and Center avenues,” San Juan said, adding that bike racks have also been installed in those areas.
Allowing bicycle riders in the vicinity, he said, is part of their environment-friendly measures, including planting trees and encouraging recycling.
San Juan added that they have always been supportive of the activities of the Firefly Brigade.
The car-free day tour ended at the Marikina Shoe Expo in Cubao, a suitable finish line. Marikina was the first which took steps to become a bike-friendly city, providing bicycle lanes, routes and bicycle racks for its constituents.
Next year, the brigade hopes to expand its advocacy beyond Metro Manila to other cities nationwide through its annual Tour of the Fireflies.
###