My apologies for duplicate postings. Tom Chapter Transportation issue chair Subj: Fw: [sustran] Thousands bike for clean air in Manila Date: 03-04-30 23:24:25 EDT From: [log in to unmask] (Eric Bruun) Sender: [log in to unmask] (Sierra Club Forum on Transportation Issues) Reply-to: [log in to unmask] (Sierra Club Forum on Transportation Issues) To: [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, 29 April 2003 7:48 PM To: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia Subject: [cai-asia] Thousands bike for clean air This is an article forwarded by the Firefly Brigade, a member of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities in the Philippines. Last Sunday's Ride was featured in page A29 of yesterday's Inquirer. Here's the article: :::::::::::::::: Fireflies Tour: Thousands bike for clean air Posted: 7:34 AM (Manila Time) | Apr. 28, 2003 By Luige del Puerto Inquirer News Service EVERY TIME Dinna Louise Dayao goes out biking, she knows she exposes herself to polluted air and reckless drivers. But she bikes all the same, she said, to "affirm that cycling is efficient, environmentally sensible and a healthy means of transport." Together with more than 2,000 bikers, Dinna, a freelance writer, battled the relentless summer heat and toured seven cities in Metro Manila Sunday to spread the gospel of biking. They called the event, the "Tour of the Fireflies," a tribute to the light-carrying creatures that are disappearing fast in urban centers. "Fireflies are very sensitive insects, and very beautiful too. They are, however, dying in Metro Manila because of pollution," Dinna told the Inquirer. "Like them, we are dying too, albeit slowly, because of pollution. We bike to show everyone that we want clean air, now" she said. Metro Manila has more than two million motor vehicles, which produce 75 percent of the air pollution in the capital. Next to New Delhi, Shanghai and Mexico City, Metro Manila is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Many of those who joined the tour were first-timers. Among them was Jasper Manlapaz, a footballer. Jasper rides his bike to work. "When you choose to bike, you help the environment by not producing toxic fumes. In the process you also exercise your heart, ensuring a healthy life," he said. Another first-timer was Ayran Arellano, a 5-year-old boy. His father Ridan brought him along with his elder brother Ayrl. Dressed like a firefly, Ayran has yet to understand the politics of biking, but he loves to bike, says his dad. "I want my children to grow up in a pollution-free city with biking lanes," Ridan said. The veteran cylist Roberto Abellar Sarreal, a pollster, missed the tour this year due to an inguinal hernia operation. At 74, he has been the oldest racer in the tour. Riding in a support vehicle, Sarreal said biking has kept him healthy. He calls on senior citizens to do the same. "Next year, I'll be on," he said. Catrina Rasha Ricardo won this year's best firefly costume competition. For her prize, she will fly to Bangkok, courtesy of Lufthansa Airlines, in an all-expense paid three-day trip. Started in 1999, the Tour of the Fireflies has been urging people to ride bikes, instead of cars. Firefly Brigade, the tour organizer, said the government would do well to promote biking as an alternative transportation system. The key to this, the group said, is an efficient local bicycle traffic lane, like the 66-kilometer bikeway network constructed in Marikina through a World Bank grant. The brigade is now working on transforming the University of the Philippines in Diliman into a calmer and safer "bike" campus. The campus oval has been rendered "car-free" on Sundays so people can walk and ride bikes without fear of getting bumped or sideswiped by a car. Indeed, the benefits of biking are endless, contends the group. Bikes are pollution free. They don't burn anything, except calories. Bikes are cheap. Maintenance is cheap. In fact, more and more workers are buying bikes to save on fare. Yet the biggest winner in biking is ultimately one's health, everyone agrees. By the time one gets to the office, he or she would have toned his or her muscles, circulated oxygen to his or her body efficiently, and exercised his or her heart. # :::::::::::::::: The Firefly Brigade is grateful for your support. We look forward to working with you on future projects. Peace and pedals! Dinna Louise C. Dayao Member, Publicity Committee The Firefly Brigade (www.fireflybrigade.org) Tels. 813 1715, 0917 462 9132 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the CONS-SPST-SPRAWL-TRANS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp