Promoting Cycling...

[mynk]

Hi Guyz,

I see that most of u have been bizy converting people around!;) Unlike the missionaries out there changing religion we all have been trying to do those people some real good...

I have grown from a 3-4kms daily with motor bike on weekend to cycling 7 days a week to having cycle as the only means of transport as today averaging at least 20 kms on weekdays and 30-40 km on weekends. Hope to join u guyz on one of ur trips soon but currently building a gang!

I need help on any good pointers that encourage cycling. I found one -

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3385

I am collating all the information @

http://ngopost.org/story.php?title=Why_ ... cycle----1

If you have blogged on the subject or have any good links, posters, etc kindly do share. I would like them added all in a single place and mass mail. BTW anybody running in Sunfeast marathon. I wish sometime there is an event for raising funds via cycling!

Have fun,
Mynk

http://cognizancevsignorance.blogspot.com/

[rohan_kini]

hey Mynk,
sounds like a good idea ..
please do add our blog there - http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/
and if its BangaloreBased mails you can also add BangaloreBikers - http://groups.google.com/group/Bangalore-bikers

[abhi]

If you can edit your post, please make it BikesZone with an "s"!

[mynk]

Hey Rohan,

Thanks for the pointers. I have added them to the blog.

I am hoping to find a few converts in the marathon next week!

Have fun,
Mynk

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Thanks for pointing out Abhi. I have rectified the same. I din't notice the 's' I must admit!

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Another addition to the list!

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Busi ... 031234.cms

[gomsi]

Hi
I am new to this group and am from B'lore. I was also thinkin on same lines. Maybe personal encouragement may help. Since we have a organized commuinti here we can visit companies and encourage people there. Like my work place is in a tech park and say in a month some of us can organize and take a day off here and give a presentation kind off a thing by visiting all the companies in that tech park. lke this we can spread the word all over.

[mynk]

Actually Krish from go cycle (organizer from Car free day) even has a clipping to promote cycling in the corporates. We could organize presentations by folks from BOTS and if companies can gift bikes to people on accomplishments it will be an excellent way to promote biking!

See if we can get started in some place like the Tech Park you mention.

[Nikhil]

I'm game, let's do it!

[pranavnegandhi]

I'm not sure how much this is about promotion, but I have begun documenting my rides in Pune on my blog. They're a bit more descriptive than technical here are the links -

http://www.notadesigner.com/2008/05/run ... rands.html

http://www.notadesigner.com/2008/05/bic ... -pune.html

.p

[rohan_kini]

nice !

[Kavitha Girish]

I came across these simple but beautiful articles describing joy of cycling.


The joy of the bicycle
http://www.florin.ms/bicycle.html

Joy of cycling
http://ohoe.blogspot.com/2007/03/cyclin ... donia.html

Enjoy reading these.

Cheers,
Kavitha

[mynk]

Wonderful links Kavitha! When I speak to people I would always wonder what is it that may attract them to this long forgotten joy and end up giving the benefits of health as the most important reason but I guess it is the sheer joy of riding this modest invention!

Some more motivation to push the push bike harder -

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/arti ... 168719.cms

happy cycling!
mynk

[mynk]

More inspiration -

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/06/19/stor ... 160400.htm

[mynk]

Courtesy Das:

Whenever I tell someone that I cycle to work, one standard question is "But how do you deal with the pollution?".
There's lots of research that says you're better off on a bicycle than inside a car. See these links.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/04/28/st ... 580300.htm

http://www.ehponline.org/docs/2001/109-9/focus.html

[Bent_gate]

Besides the usual - workout/smaller environmental footprint/less stress than driving a car, here's another one...

- Patriotic statement(!). Yes! Imagine commuting twice a week to work. Assuming about 12 km each way, that's four liters per week. That's about 200 liters per year, that's about a barrel and a quarter per annum saved. Assuming about 500 people commute to work thus on an average in Bangalore. That's about 86 tonnes of oil saved annually and as much less dependence on an imported resource.

- Well, someone might point out that cycles like Trek are manufactured outside the country, and that is not patriotic? Well, it's a matter of adopting a lesser 'evil' (caveat - my personal opinion on free trade is far from this), to address another bigger evil. A similar analogy is of using foreign made Migs and Bofors to fight our enemies.

[mynk]

If the imported bikes help me cover larger distance with more efficiency and fun I would not think twice about getting them. Trying a merida tomorrow. I would love the goverment to subsidize it to encourage people to buy such a noble invention!

The good thing is some such things are already being done by the govt -

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Citi ... 146944.cms

For a change I smiled at the newspaper!