Bike for Clean Air - The Firefly Brigade
Editorial
2001 Bicycles and Non-Motorized Transport: Safe, Cost-Effective Alternatives
by the Firefly Brigade

http://www.fireflybrigade.org/images/pic20.jpgThere are signs of hope, however. These are in the form of safe, cost-effective and pollution - free forms of non-motorized transport (NMT). These include the bicycle, public monorail systems (like the MRT and LRT), pedicabs, electric vehicles, and, good, old-fashioned walking (pedestrianism).

  • Cost-effective. Bicycles are cheap to buy and are cheaper to maintain. A bicycle owner, unlike a car owner, need not worry about periodic tune-ups, changing oil or lubrication jobs. Actually, s/he does not need to worry about spending hard-earned money for gas. Moreover, bikers worry less about the availability of parking space in a particular area because ideally, a dozen bikes can fit in the space required to park a single car.
  • Pollution-free.To function efficiently, a bicycle does not need to burn fossil fuel since it burns calories while utilizing human energy. Much more, it makes virtually no noise. Unlike motorized vehicles, cycling does not contribute to air pollution, noise pollution and global warming. It does not poison children with atmospheric lead.
  • Developmentally sustainable. Economic growth and increased mobility does not have to mean congestion and pollution. In Japan, the majority of the people regularly use public transport. Although Japan is a major manufacturer of cars, it exports most of the cars it produces. Congestion and pollution caused by motorized vehicles are not symbols of progress, but of paralysis.

http://www.fireflybrigade.org/images/pic35.jpgCycle-friendly traffic planning is the way forward. We must consider that cycling is not just for the poor. In fact, cycling is booming in many European, American and Asian Cities, where both rich and poor ride bicycles.

As a viable alternative to motorized transportation, bicycling makes an individual achieve good health. Aside from walking, cycling is the healthiest and most sustainable mode of transportation. The regular use of a bicycle enhances the functioning of the cyclist's lungs, heart and muscles. Likewise, cycling keeps the body physically fit while encouraging and strengthening social interaction among fellow cyclists.