Article in the Business Mirror
On Tue, 27 May 2008 20:33:12 -0700 (PDT), Marvin Tort <matort@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>
> The best way to save on fuel
> Do you want to save on fuel? Students at the University of the
Philippines
> (UP) in Diliman, with the support of the UP administration, recently
> initiated a program that is sure to help student-motorists (and their
> parents) lower their fuel costs, as well as save on parking fees. Even
> those commuting can benefit from the program, as it can also mitigate
> rising transportation fares.
> The solution: bicycles. Get the students off their butts and make them
> either walk or bike their way around the Diliman campus. Simple-minded as
> this may seem, the program makes plenty of sense, particularly for
> Diliman's young and restless crowd. What better way to burn off all
that
> youthful energy! It may even bring down the number of teenage
pregnancies,
> as well as fraternity rumbles, in the DilimanRepublic.
> In the early 1970s, as world oil prices skyrocketed and as Ferdinand
> Marcos's New Republic emerged, a young and unassuming comedian by the
> name of Ariel Ureta offered the most practical solution to the
country's
> woes: "Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, bisikleta ang kailangan." And with the
> way things are now, it seems that political and economic history is
simply
> repeating itself. So, does the solution need to be any different?
> One can always bike instead of drive, more so in going around a
> "closed" community like the UP campus in Diliman. Biking helps reduce
> fuel use and also air and noise pollution, and consequently makes Diliman
a
> more conducive place for learning. Think about it.
> Just recently, the program, known as the UP Padyak Project, successfully
> ended its summer test run with 16 volunteers: four boys and 12 girls.
> Program coordinators also say there are more girls than boys signing up
for
> the program starting this coming first semester. Perhaps the girls are
more
> conscious of their health, as well as the environment?
> Students can "rent" bikes under the program for use within the
Diliman
> campus for just P500 for every semester. But they must buy their own
> helmets, which are mandatory. The rent includes the bike, cable lock and
> the bike clinic on how to safely ride. One clinic, for the more than 50
> students who already signed up, is already scheduled for June 7 at the AS
> Parking Lot, and will be conducted by a trainer from the Firefly Brigade.
> They will teach basic riding skills, safety and how to do minor bike
> repairs.
> Program coordinators say the project uses utility bikes, the ones with
> step-through frames. These are designed for comfort and utility rather
that
> sport and speed. A carrying basket mounted along the handlebars, bell and
> cable locks will also be provided as part of the rent. Bicycle shops
inside
> the UP campus will also be tapped for quick repairs like flats, brake
> tuning and others. The current inventory is composed of recycled utility
> bicycles mostly from Japan and other bike donations.
> A boundary is planned to be established around the campus where the bikes
> can be used. This boundary will cover the major academic buildings,
> residence halls and commercial destinations of UP Diliman. There is word
> that it is the UP administration's long-term plan to allocate bike
routes
> in the campus.
> With the support of the UP administration, a core group composed of
alumni
> and supporters of the UP Mountaineers will be acquiring and keeping bikes
> in inventory for rent to students. And contributions for the purchase of
> bikes have been coming in even from other UP alumni who have heard of the
> program. The core group is also looking into putting up bike racks around
> campus for people who own and use bicycles. Sorry, motorcycles and
scooters
> may not be allowed to chain to the racks.
> The UP Padyak Project has three objectives: a) to encourage cycling as a
> means of transportation; b) promote environmental conservation by
reducing
> the use of fossil fuel-driven vehicles; and c) encourage a healthy
> lifestyle in the UP campus. The project is an undertaking of the UP
> Mountaineers but spearheaded by members of Batch '88 as they celebrate
> their 20th year in the organization. It is also a fitting way to
celebrate
> UP's 100th year. Initial program target are students, and then later on
> maybe faculty and other UP staff.
> Those interested in the program can contact the coordinators at
> padyakbikes@gmail.com or visit their web site
www.padyak.org. People are
> encouraged to donate bikes or money, make bikes their business or donate
> time to help promote cycling. Many years back, Chinamaintained the
largest
> inventory worldwide of bicycles in use. Millions of bikes were on Chinese
> roads. But times have changed. Many Chinese residents now use cars. One
can
> only wonder whatever happened to all those bicycles. Perhaps some can
find
> their way to the Philippines, to be donated for use in a laudable project
> like the UP Padyak.
> end
>