Sustainability Week at Griffith University

I have now been in Brisbane and working at Griffith University for 5 years. I really enjoy it. Griffith has a vibrant community, offers excellent opportunities and makes a genuine effort to improve individual, community, national and global imperatives – and Sustainability Week is a case in point.

Griffith University, 2018

This week is Sustainability Week at Griffith University.

It just so happened, I was teaching 1205MED Health Challenges in the 21st Century (x 3 tutorials) today at the Gold Coast campus, which coincided beautifully with the first of Griffith’s Sustainability Week events.

Hooray!

The Library Lawn had a range of stalls set up from 10-2pm to kick off their Sustainability Fair.

My two favourite stalls were the pedal-powered smoothie stall (of course!) and the Native flora stall.

While I was there, the pedal-powered smoothie stall was busy and was attracting some good attention – that was until it started raining! Oh no!

Sustainability Week at Griffith University. Bicycles Create Change.com 4th September, 2018.

I had a chat with the native plant stall representatives and got some lovely native seedlings to plant in the garden (Thanks so much!).

I chose colourful bushy bird attractors. This stall was also spruiking the award-winning app GroNATIVE, which is the brainchild of Prof. Catherine Pickering, a Griffith academic I really admire.

Sustainability Week at Griffith University. Bicycles Create Change.com 4th September, 2018.
Griffith University, 2018

Other Sustainability Week events on offer include:

  • I Made Your Jewellery – an ethical jewellery stall
  • The Sustainability Fair (GC) including an array of stalls and meet-and-greets
  • Ghosting: A workshop with artist Pamela See: The Pod QCA Library
  • Griffith Library Lightning Talks: Waste Wars
  • Circular Economy – whose responsibility? Eco-Centre presentation
  • ….and others

Griffith’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

‘To be a sustainable university’ is one of the five key goals identified in the Griffith 2020 strategy that sets the direction for the University.

Griffith University is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and has signed up to Sustainable Development Solutions Network Australia/Pacific (the Universities Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals).

This means that Griffith University agrees to:

  • support and promote the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals
  • undertake research that provides solutions to sustainable development challenges
  • provide the educational opportunity for our students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development
  • contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring our campuses and major programs are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, and
  • report on our activities in support of the Sustainable Development Goals

Even though it was a little stormy and rained towards the end, I was happy that such events occur on campus. It is important that we keep sustainability at the forefront of our daily routines, thoughts and actions.

I am glad to work for an organisation that makes a concerted effort to highlight – and redress – some of the biophysical issues we face.

It was great to see more bikes on campus being used to promote a more green and positive approach to transport, food (well….in this case, smoothies) and academic life in general!

Go Gold Coast Campus! Happy Sustainability Fair!

Sustainability Week at Griffith University. Bicycles Create Change.com 4th September, 2018.

How many Australians participate in mountain biking?

In July, Nao Kamakura joined Bicycles Create Change as Research Assistant. Nao is investigating rates of participation in mountain biking, with a particular focus on rates of female participation. Below is Nao’s first post for BCC where she shares a few preliminary findings and thoughts.


How many Australians participate in mountain biking? Bicycles Create Change.com 31st August, 2018
Image: Nur Andi  Racvanjani Gusma

How many Australians participate in mountain biking as a sport?

Brisbane City Council claims that “Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing recreational activities”.

But, how many people actually participate in mountain biking as a sport?

According to 2016 data from the  Australian Government Australian Sports Commission, cycling is the 5th most popular sport in Australian for women (over 15 years) old and its total number of participants was 85,5231.

The total female population (for all ages) in Australia is 12.2 billion in 2016. Therefore, statistically, 7% of Australian women ride bicycles! This number includes both road cyclists and mountain bikers.

To participate in mountain bike competitions, riders need to register with Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA), which is the peak national organisation for mountain biking.

MTBA covers a number of off-road biking styles, including cross country, downhill, observed trials, cross-country marathon and cyclocross. Currently, MTBA has over 15,000 members and 175 affiliated clubs nationwide.

The number of female MTBA members in 2017 was 2,481 – and this gives provides our initial baseline for female participation and interest in the sport of mountain biking. However, these membership rates do not adequately signify actual participation rates.

Although MTBA registration offers membership in categories such as: race, non-riding, recreation, public liability, value-add, free trial, family and day licenses – it is important to keep in mind that are still a number of riders who are/have not registered with MTBA who mountain bike – and that their participation would not be represented in these rates.

Many riders are registered,  but not all MTBers participate in competitions. In particular, these numbers do not include the account for many riders who enjoy mountain bike without participating in competitions.

How many Australians participate in mountain biking? Bicycles Create Change.com 31st August, 2018
WA Mountain Bike Strategy 2015-2010

The approach, definition and classification of mountain biking vary significantly between the individual states and territories. Such differences impact how data is analysed, where funding is allocated and how the sport is viewed (and represented) by each state’s governing body. This is an area that will be of concerted interest for the project I am working on.

Interestingly, Western Australia is the only state that has clear statistics on mountain bikers. The WA government published the WA Mountain Bike Strategy 2015-2020 to encourage more people to engage in mountain biking.  The report clearly states that the number of women who mountain bike is 14,400. 

However again, these results do not mean that each of those 14,400 riders engages with MTBA as a sport, but it does list that the top three reasons Western Australians ride mountain bikes is 1) for the outdoor experience, 2) for fitness, and 3) for socialising.

So initial investigations show mixed results about the rates of mountain biking registration and participation.

How many Australians participate in mountain biking? Bicycles Create Change.com 31st August, 2018
WA Mountain Bike Strategy 2015-2010

So far, my research has not yet confirmed the actual number of female mountain bikers in the whole of Australia – the rate is still unconfirmed.

One reason for this is that the definition of mountain biking is ambiguous.

Depending on what you read or what states/territory you are in, mountainbiking can be classified as a sport, as recreation, or as transport. This lack of consistency means that it can be difficult to compare data sets.

It is a challenge and a pleasure to be learning more about mountain biking in Australia – and I look forward to sharing more insights and findings as they arise.

I hope mountain biking is more recognised as a sport in the near future and that rates of participants will increase!

How many Australians participate in mountain biking? Bicycles Create Change.com 31st August, 2018
@RATSchicksride

US National Dog Day

Yesterday was the US National Dog Day. In honour of this dog-gone day – today offers a smattering of pooch-and-bike tit-bits. This post is dedicated to my own amazing trail dog, Zoe! Many more happy trails to come! NG.


Ruby the Trail Dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 18th April 2018.Image: Nina and Zoe (Forest, VIC).

Happy US National Dog Day

The American national holiday Dogs Day started in 2004 by animal behaviorist, author and animal advocate Colleen Paige. *

This day was originally designed to highlight adoptable dogs and rescue services – but is also recognised more widely to acknowledge the contribution, achievement and positive role that dogs have in our homes and communities.

This commemoration is also known as National Dog Day, Dog Appreciation Day, World’s Dog Day, and International Dog Day.

This event has also been adopted by other countries outside of the US.

“Love is a four legged word.” – Unknown

BCC loves dogs!

Regular BCC readers know that dogs are a regular feature on this blog. Some of our previous doggie reports include:

 

US National Dog Day. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th August, 2018.
Source: National Dog Day 2018

Third Wheel

To celebrate US National Dog Day, I found this sweet edit from Transition Bikes called Everyone Third Wheel. I appreciated the simplicity of the footage – and laughed where I saw the comment on Pinkbike under the title Everone needs a trail dog, which was:

Sick of seeing people rail trails harder than you ever could? Ready to smile while watching a bike edit instead of being overwhelmed with a feeling of inadequacy? We’ve got the answer.

Third Wheel: Deep in the woods of Vermont’s Green Mountains, mountain bikers escape to some of New England’s most pristine singletrack. The thick forests provide a refuge for those seeking adventure.

Rider Adam Morse and his dog, Flow, revel in the in the solitude and transform the green tunnel into a private playground.

So here it is!

 

And for the US readers – here are the top 10 US states that love dogs the most:

US National Dog Day. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th August, 2018.
Source: National Today

*Coincidentally, did you know…….August 26th is also Women’s Equality Day!

National Dog Day was founded by a woman (Colleen Paige) in 2004 and this date is significant for a number of reasons. August 26th is when Colleen’s father adopted their first family dog.

Interestingly, there was nothing about Women’s Equality Day found on the internet in 2004 (when Dog Day was initiated), which makes these two special initiatives, which come together years later, to be even more auspicious for those who know about this synthesis. 

So give a dog in your life and extra special cuddle and trail ride today!

Happy National Dog Day to our American cycling brothers and sisters.

Ride on you awesome #Bike_CISTAS teams – the day is yours!

GCCRP Climate Change Symposium – Abstract

Source: GCCRP 2018

While participating in the Looping Masterclass earlier this year in July, Claire Tracey (my wonderful collaborator) suggested we put in an abstract for the GCCRP Climate Change Symposium.

Claire and I have produced a number of environmental/art performance projects over the years like The Wattle Festival ‘s Pop-Up ReCycle Shop (2013), Leki and the Ova (2014) and The Bio Bike: Your Future Thanks You (2018). 

Recently, we have been workshopping our newest eco-performance idea.

It was our newest project’s conceptualization and development she thought would be an interesting addition to the GCCRP Climate Change Symposium program.

And of course – she was right!

So we put in an abstract and are presenting at the end of this week!

GCCRP Climate Change Symposium - Abstract. Bicycles Create
Claire and I working on our last eco-performance project ‘The Bio Bike’ for the national Sustainability Living Festival (Melbourne – Feb 2018).

Griffith Climate Change Response Program (GCCRP) Climate Change Symposium.

The GCCRP Climate Change Symposium is a research forum where HDRers and Early Career Researchers from Griffith University share their discoveries, outcomes and innovations.

It is on at Griffith Uni Southbank Friday 24 August 2018, 9 am – 4 pm

The symposium features a range of research presentations that showcase the cross-cutting nature of climate change research.

The five key research themes are:

  • Climate change impacts
  • Climate change and food security
  • Community engagement in climate change adaptation
  • Climate change policy and theory
  • Climate change and health

Our Symposium Abstract

Here is the abstract for the session Claire and I will be presenting:

Furthering climate change discourse and action through performative works

Presenters: Claire Tracey and Nina Ginsberg

Collaborators Claire Tracey (Visual Arts) and Nina Ginsberg (Education) use performance and audience engagement to communicate environmental issues. Through community art engagement, they aim to connect with local communities on an immediate level, furthering climate change discourse and action through performative works. Their work links Climate Change and Environment Science themes with performance, design and community- art interaction.

This research explores the intersection of climate change research and artistic interpretations of how to convey complex environmental issues to communities in a proactive and engaging manner. Their work seeks to increase community awareness about climate change issues in ways that are novel, participatory and educational. Their projects are informed by feedback from the engagement of the project itself, creating a direct relationship between the action and the sustainable and environmental issues that affect our immediate society.

The result of each performance interaction is offered with an open spirit- with the reception by the public to be determined in the moment as a collaborative process.

This session will outline a number of climate change projects we have undertaken to explain how theory and practice are enacted, using archetypes such as a feminine ecological shadow warrior, whose presence echoes of hope and perseverance derived from historical ideas of female protection, nurture, power and subversion.

 

GCCRP Climate Change Symposium - Abstract. Bicycles Create
GCCRP Climate Change Symposium Program

About GCCRP

The Griffith Climate Change Response Program has been leading Griffith University’s research into climate change adaptation and mitigation since 2007.

GCCRP leads Griffith University’s research into climate change adaptation and mitigation.

As climate change issues cut across many fields of study its research projects are transdisciplinary. The program brings together the wealth of Griffith research expertise from across the University, enabling climate change problems to be addressed in a comprehensive manner.

GCCRP has successfully developed a number of strategic domestic, regional and international partnerships in the area of climate change adaptation and attracted significant external research funds.

The result is a growing portfolio of research and applied research projects where GCCRP works in collaboration with other research institutions, governments, international bodies, NGOs and communities to effectively understand, plan and respond to the adverse effects of a rapidly changing climate.

GCCRP now has a strong platform from which Griffith University’s research and expertise can influence the climate change policies, plans and actions required for effective adaptation and mitigation.

I’m excited to be part of this discussion!

I’ll let you know how Claire and I go!

Trail Troll – MTB Art

Trail Troll- MTB Art. Bicycles Create Change.com 19th August, 2018.
Source: @colorado13love

How often do you see art installations when you are on a bike?

Road riders see the most given they’re on roads and bike paths which have more art in public spaces, but it is rare for trail riders.

So how to bring more art to MTB trails?

Easy – have an arts festival in an MTB forest.

That way you can promote the outdoors, trail use (biking/walking), sustainability, community and the arts all in one place.

The annual Breckenridge International Arts Festival (BIFA) is one such event that showcases how exceptionally well the trail-art unity can work.

And this year BIFA’s trail art installation was particularly impressive…..

Trail Troll- MTB Art

This year Danish artist @thomasdambo created the most awesome thing I’ve seen in a long time on an MTB bike trail (aside from the actual wicked bike trail systems themselves).

A massive Trail Troll made from out of wood from the surrounding forest.

The best part of this part of this Trail Troll?

Hidden inside is a heart-shaped stone the local kids gave the artist when he was building the installation.

And – only those who ride (or walk) up the trail can access the sculpture.

Trail Troll- MTB Art. Bicycles Create Change.com 19th August, 2018.
Source: BIFA 2018

For those who want to see it: Start at the trail sign at the east end of the Northern parking lot and walk up the trail to stairs. At the top of the stairs take a left and then a right onto Moonstone Trail and hike up the trail for 20-30 minutes.

The Trail Troll installation,  BIFA and @breckcreate collectively, are brilliant models of how the trail using community (riders, walkers and others) can collaborate with industries to extend and innovative tourism, sustainability and public/arts opportunities and access.

Trail Troll- MTB Art. Bicycles Create Change.com 19th August, 2018.
Source: 303Magzine.com

What is the BIFA?

This festival is held annually in Breckenridge, Colorado (USA).

It is a unique meshworking and celebration of all things active, outdoors and creative.

Inspired by themes of environment and mountain culture, the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts brings together a variety of performances, installations, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks, and surprise collaborations, with an eclectic mix of music, theatre, film, visual and street arts, and family entertainment.

BIFA 2018 was held August 9-19th.

The festival’s key themes are:

  • Music & Performance
  • Visual Arts
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Film and Cinematic Arts
  • Contemporary Circus
  • Acoustic Flow
  • Workshops, Talks and Demos
  • ….and most importantly for MTBers- the TRAIL MIX program!
Trail Troll- MTB Art. Bicycles Create Change.com 19th August, 2018.
Source: BIFA 2018

What is the BIFA Trail Mix?

Trail Mix combines art, music, hiking and biking along the trails of Breckenridge through free outdoor concerts and environmental installations, featuring pop-up performances throughout BIFA. Featuring artworks by Nicole Banowetz, Thomas Dambo and Edina Tokodi. Co-presented with Breckenridge Music Festival.

The Trail Troll was a key part of this year’s Trail Mix Offering.

So if you are in the area – grab your bike and get on Moonstone Trail to check it out.

For those who are not in Colorado – perhaps the Trail Troll will fire up the imagination and action for an installation for your local trail.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Happy Trail Trolls!

Trail Troll- MTB Art. Bicycles Create Change.com 19th August, 2018.
Source: BIFA 2018

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018!

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Source: www.babyelephant.asia

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018!

How easily we forget or disregard that which is not part of our immediate daily experience….like the plight of elephants.

 Elephant populations have declined by 62% over the last decade, with 24,000 Elephants poached last year in Africa alone.

Sunday (August 12th) was World Elephant Day 2018.

To celebrate the majestic elephant – and as a reminder that just because we don’t see them every day –  much still needs to be done for those elephants still left.

So, here are a few ways that cyclists are progressing elephant conservation,  both off and on the bike.

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Source: Ride a Bike not an Elephant

Ride a bike, not an elephant – Khatsahlano Street Party

One way to show support off the bike is by wearing a t-shirt like one of these below, which comes from annual Khatsahlano Street Party.

This event had local bands, artisans, food trucks, and giveaways. The T-shirt featured here was a key part of the event fundraising campaign to protect elephants from the unethical tourism industry.  100% of the net profit of these T-shirts went to free an abused elephant to a sanctuary in Asia.

 

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Source: Bring the Elephant back home

Bike for Elephants 2018

Bike for Elephants’ is a 2-day charity bike tour arranged as part of the Dutch group Bring the elephant back home group. This bike ride is in eastern Thailand and the cost of participation goes towards innovative wild elephant conservation projects. This ride is promoted as an adventure and fun biking trip through the mountains and plantations and through forests in Chantaburi Province.

Cost includes safety instructions, a t-shirt, overnight stay, mountain bike rental, helmet, all meals and drinks. Also included are opportunities to meet the research team, see live elephants and new conservation techniques (like the beehive fences) in action and being part of an experience that is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Source: Spreadshirt

So what’s all the fuss?

Elephants are amazing creatures.

Green Global Travel’s website is focused on drawing attention to the challenge elephants face – and goes on to state that:

  1. In the early 1900s African Elephant populations were estimated to be in the millions, while there were around 100,000 Asian Elephants. According to World Wildlife Fund, today there are around 700,000 African Elephants in the wild, and just 32,000 Asian Elephants.
  2. In 1989, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) banned the international ivory trade. Yet poaching for ivory has been steadily increasing, with 800,000 African elephants killed over the last three decades.
  3. In addition to poaching, habitat loss and conflict with human populations are key threats facing Elephant populations. Climate change projections suggest key Elephant habitat will become hotter and drier, so poor foraging conditions may threaten the survival of more calfs in the future.
On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Source: Fox News

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create

So sometime this week, take at least one small step to support elephant rescue and conservation  – and show the world that cyclists are connected and care about our world – both on and off the bike.

Click here for an extensive list of links, places and ways you can help elephants.

And next time you’re riding with cycling buddies, here’s a few other interesting elephant facts you can share…

  1. Elephants are incapable of jumping, but these massive mammals can run at a maximum speed of 25 miles (40 km) per hour.
  2. Elephants, like people, have a ‘prefered side’ of using their tusks: Some are “lefties,” others are “righties.” They’ll favor that tusk when fighting other Elephants, picking things up, or stripping leaves and bark off trees. Because of constant usage, their preferred tusk gets shorter over time.
  3. The elephant’s trunk (called a proboscis) contains 16 muscles.
  4. Elephants have incredibly poor digestion, with only 50% efficiency. As a result, they release an incredible amount of gas (methane) and produce around 250 pounds of manure a day!
  5. Elephant skin is over an inch thick. But because it’s loaded with nerve endings, their skin is also highly sensitive. Elephants from the same herd will often use touch to greet each other, either wrapping their trunks around each other or giving each other friendly “hello” taps on the body.

 

On ya bike for World Elephant Day 2018! Bicycles Create Change.com 14th August, 2018.
Illustration: Sarah Tanat-Jones

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos

Bicycle Tattoos - on thighs. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Swoopsworld Pinterest)

Many cyclists are fanatical about bikes.

There are umpteen ways for bicycle enthusiasts to exhibit and share their love of bikes.

One of the most permanent commitments is to get it tattooed on your body.

I posted my first bicycle themed tattooed blog post here on bicycles create change back in August 2016, called Cycle Ink (Part 1).

I wanted to give a snapshot of the variety of bike tattoos and to showcase some of the standard and more unusual styles of bicycle tattoos around.

However, permanent tattoos are not everyone. So, my next bicycle tattoo blog post, was on Bicycle Temporary Tattoos (April 23rd, 2017).

 

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Askideas

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos

For this post, I wanted to see what kind of bicycle tattoos there are out there specifically on thighs.

I’ve seen a wonderful array of individual, quirky and incredible cycling tattoos over the years (go to a Singlespeed World Championship and you will know what I mean!) and I love how bold and unique they are.

I chose the tattoos below, not because they are the best looking tattoos, but because they show a good range of personalities and styles (both in riders and tattoos!).

I divided them up into 4 categories.

Here’s what I found….

1. For the fun of the ride

The first group of thigh bike tattoos include those that are fun, light, playful and a little bit sexy.

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Tattooeasily.com
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Tattooeasily.com
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Two Wheels Better

2. Colour and movement

Other people prefer some colour and movement in their tattoos.

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Bike Reich.tumblr.com
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: i.pinimg.com

3. Each part is a thing of beauty

Tattoos also celebrate the mechanical nature of  ‘the parts of the greater whole’ and various types of bikes.

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Tattoo Hunt
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: Sebikes
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: PypaRUY – Mpora

4. The hard truth about cycling power

For others, it is the raw pedal power that excites and motivates.

Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source; Askideas
Thigh Bicycle Tattoos. Bicycles Create Change.com 9th August, 2018
Source: E bikerig

And there are many others!

Love them or hate them, tattoos are here to stay.

Some riders have bike tattoos and some riders don’t – maybe someone you ride with has one – but you just can’t see it.

So next time you are on a ride, keep your eyes open for a cycling tattoo gem and have a chat with someone who has their tattooed love of bicycles on display.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog

I remember reading this story ages ago – and it really stuck with me. As a bike rider and dog owner, there is nothing more appealing than hitting endless trails on bikes with a furry mate. For our honeymoon, husband and I took the bikes and Zoe and spent three weeks driving up the east coast of Australia riding all the best MTB trails along the way. We had an amazing time. So when my work gets more than the usual crazy (mostly around marking time) and I’m feeling like there’s a lot going on, I think back to our time on the trails with Zoe and I reread this story…..and it makes everything okay. Just to know that this is an option and there are riders out there living the dream makes me happy. In our house, there continues to be talks of future cycling puppy inclusive cycling travels. Hazah!! Ride on #bikes_CISTA teams! NG.


Joshua Sivarajah sold all his possessions and set out to bike around the UK with just his dog Nero for company – a year later, he has found no reason to stop.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

For the first 34 years of my life, I led a fairly conformist existence – university, a succession of jobs, my own sales business – but I never felt fulfilled.

When my mum suggested I move to Indonesia with her, I thought, “Why not?” and started making preparations. But as the departure date got closer, I realised how much I was going to miss the UK.

I decided I’d spend some time touring the country on my bike with Nero, my five-year-old collie.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog

I sold my car, gave away my furniture, quit my flat, bought panniers for my bike and dragged my tent and sleeping bag out from under the stairs.

By the end of the week, I was on my way, Nero trotting beside me.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

My plan was to cycle round the UK in about seven weeks. But a fortnight in, I realised there was no need for me to go fast – I just needed to appreciate what was around me.

It was tough going sometimes, but I learned how keen people are to help.

Most nights we camped on farmland or in parks (even in a castle once) but we also met people who were happy to put us up for the night.

Travelling with a dog, you make friends wherever you go.

Very early on, Nero burned his paws on hot tarmac and took to riding on top of my bags; an ironmonger in Whitby welded a special shelf on to my bike for him to sit on.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

I’ve seen and done much more than I expected. The west coast of Scotland was particularly thrilling – I learned to sail and fish, I caught wild mackerel for breakfast and saw sea eagles with two-metre wingspans.

It was around that time that I phoned my mum and said, “I don’t think I can come to Jakarta, Ma. This is what I was born to do.”

My only outgoings are food for me and Nero, about £300 a month.

I carry my tent, my sleeping bag, hammock, and my laptop – other than the bare minimum of clothes and a few cooking utensils, that’s all I have.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

I feel lighter, both physically and mentally.

We’re now cycling across Europe – we’ve visited France, Spain and Portugal so far. I never want to stop.

We’re slightly limited by Nero’s pet passport, so we can’t go to Africa or Asia, but I hope to cycle in the US next year.

After that, who knows?

As long as my knees hold out, I’ll keep going.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

Giving it all up to cycle the world with your dog. Bicycles Create Change.com 5th August 2018.

As told by Joshua Sivarajah to the Guardian’s Chris Broughton. This article was first published in the Guardian 9th July 2015. Images not attributed are from Joshua’s Facebook page or Dog Training website.

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe

Many of us who ride know the inherent positive health, economic and environmental benefits of biking.

But it is always reassuring to have the hard facts to back it  up at the next dinner party you go to…so here is some ripper data from the EU  you can wave under the noses of any annoying your non-riders who pooh-pooh cycling’s economic contributions to society.

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe. Bicycles Create Change.com 31st July 2018.

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe

A report entitled The Cycling Economy in Europe was produced in 2013  by the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF).

The ECF is a preeminent cycling advocacy group, whose work centres around progressing cycling via a range of themes including economic, policy, tourism, health and environment, technology and safety and infrastructure to name a few.

This report is interesting because from what it looks like, it was the first European attempt (definitely ECF’s first calculation) to monetise the internal and external benefits that come cycling in the EU-27 (EU 2007-2013 when it had 27 member states).

Download the report here: ECF Economic Benefits of cycling in EU-27.pdf

This report was based on:

  • Health benefits of cycling
  • Congestion-easing due to cycle use
  • Fuel savings due to cycle use
  • Reduced CO2 emissions due to cycle use
  • Reduced air pollution due to cycle use
  • Reduced noise pollution due to cycle use.

The ECF calculates the annual economic benefit of cycling in the EU-27 to be at least € 205 bn.

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe. Bicycles Create Change.com 31st July 2018.

Report Highlights

Here are a few highlights from the report as outlined in a presentation by Chloe Mispelon (ECF):

  • Current economic benefits of cycling are huge (over 500 billion € for the EU 28, more than 1000€ per inhabitant each year)
  • The economic potential is important as cycling modal share today is way below its mid XXth century levels in most EU countries.
  • Cycling economic benefits are spread over a wide range of fields making the case for cross-sectoral strategies on cycling at local, national or EU level
  • Lack of data prevents research to explore many other cycling related economic benefits

This report is ECF’s second calculation of the internal and external benefits of cycling linked to the current level of cycling in the EU-28. It is an extended and updated version of the first report published in 2013. The calculations have been updated with the latest available figures; in some cases, the methodologies for calculating the benefits have been refined taking into account the feedback received; and more benefits have been added in a systematic way.

So what are the estimates?

Summing up the calculated and estimated benefits of cycling in all these sectors, ECF arrives at the following aggregate figures:

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe. Bicycles Create Change.com 31st July 2018.

The present report clearly shows that the benefits of cycling occur not only in specific, isolated fields like transport or environmental policy, but in many other areas where the EU has competences as well, like industrial policy, employment, health and social policy.

An integrated EU cycling strategy that includes these fields and considers cycling in all relevant policy areas will therefore enable the whole EU to reap these benefits in the future, including the countries which currently have low rates of cycling.

In some areas, ECF identified benefits of cycling but were not able to give any calculation or estimation yet.

More qualitative and quantitative research is needed in those fields to quantify these benefit.

The aim of this report is therefore also to encourage further research on the subject in order to draw a more precise picture of the economic benefits of cycling in the future.

Estimating the Cycling Economy in Europe. Bicycles Create Change.com 31st July 2018.All images and data in this post come from ECF or the ECF”s Economic Benefits of Cycling in EU-27 Report.

Bernard’s exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center

 A big thanks to Papa Al for passing on this inspiring story to share! NG.

There can be few better examples of where bicycles create more positive community change than through the bicycle work of Bernard Kiawia.

Bernard Kiwia started out as a bike mechanic in his home country of Tanzania.

While repairing bicycles, he began applying his skills to use pedal power to create products and tools that directly improve to the lives of people in his community.

In 2011, Bernard made a bicycle-powered cellphone charger (see below).

Since then, he has continued to invent.

Now, Bernard is called “the father of rural innovation” in Tanzania.

Bernard is now a well-respected social entrepreneur – and bikes still feature prominently in many of his new inventions.

His current work is now focused on applying his (and other people’s) mechanical and technical skills towards addressing manual labour and technology issues in his area.

Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: GCS: Episode 2 – Bike-Powered Cellphone Charger – Bernard Kiwia (Screenshot)

 

Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: Twende-tanzania.org

Bernard says:

What we want to show people is they have skills to make their own technology that they can afford, they can repair, they can find the spare parts that they need

With local people, their income is always small and the kind of machines you can buy in the shop are not made for these local people because they’re expensive. That’s why I’m focusing on local.

I create technologies because I realise it’s something that can help my family and the community.

 

Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: Twende-tanzania.org

Twende – Accelerating Social Innovation

Bernard established Twende, which is a community inventor’s workshop. Twende is a creative workspace for people to come and use tools, problem solve ideas and experiment with making prototypes.

In this way, Twende functions similarly to a Men’s Shed, as it is an open workspace that has tools, resources and people there to support projects.

It also runs three workshop streams

1. Creative Capacity Workshop -entry-level workshops for any level.

  • Affordable Flashlight (~6 hours)
  • Automatic Switch (~7 hours)
  • Solar-Powered Phone Charger (~10 hours)

2. Built It Workshops – mechanically-focused workshops which include:

  • Spirit Stove (~3 hours)
  • Bottle Opener (~2 hours)
  • Electronics Workshop for secondary schools
  • A few of the Build Its Workshops are also integrated into some schools electronics curriculum.

3. Advanced Offerings – requires some advanced skills and tools (like welding)

  • Drip Irrigation
  • Bicycle-Powered Maize Sheller

So far,  over 800 local innovators have used Twende, of which most are secondary school students, small-holder farmers, women, and microentrepreneurs.

Bicycles are ubiquitous and versatile (especially as a means to produce energy-efficient power) so it is not surprising that they feature in many of Twende’s inventions.

Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: Flickr Erik (HASH) Hersman

The Twende innovation hub was established as a space to “collaborate with students and community members in Tanzania to identify their challenges and design & create their own solutions to their problems will contribute to a world with improved access to technologies that improve people’s lives, a stronger local economy, and a nation of innovators and problem-solvers.”

Hence, Twede teaches people how to create technologies that:

  1. address their own needs.
  2. utilize locally available materials,
  3. are inexpensive and affordable,
  4. are able to be repaired locally.
  5. are designed with (not just for) communities & partners
  6. …and they make some of their own inventions for use and sale as well
Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: BBC News 1 Video

Twende is such an important grassroots social venture.

It fosters creative ingenuity, recycling, upskilling, empowers local skills, is cost-effective and addresses locally-identified issues – as well as providing a welcoming space for people to test mechanical and technical ideas that have an immediate positive impact.

And all this grew out of one man’s exploration of how a bike could make work and life better  – awesome!

Bernard's exploration of bicycles = Twende Social Innovation Center. Bicycles Create Change.com 27th July 2018.
Source: BBC News 1 Video

BBC News 1 images inlucded are still from the BBC video: Bernard Kiwia: Tanzania’s bicycle mechanic turned inventor.