Malala – teachers, girls, rights and education

This week I’ve been working on my PhD Ethics Application for my PhD. As I do this, there have been two international dates that have individually been very important, but collectively add gravity to my Ethics Application. This has caused me to reflect deeper than usual in light of work I’m now doing around ethics, benevolence and risk.

Two key dates

Internationally, World Teachers’ Day was held on 5 October.

Celebrated in more than 100 countries world-wide, World Teachers’ Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994 to recognise the role of teachers in society.

Last year on in Instagram for World Teachers Day, I celebrated the wonderful guidance, work and role that Dr Richard Johnson had for me in my decision to go into teaching.

Then, on 11th October, it was International Day of the Girl Child.

International Day of the Girl recognises the unique challenges that face girls globally and the enormous potential for change girls possess. So the main aims of the day are to promote girl’s empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face.

In the midst of these two major international commemorations and working on my Ethics Application – it is Malala Yousafzai who keeps popping into my head.

Malala – teachers, girls, rights and education

For me, Malala is the common thread the weaves these three events together and directly links them to my PhD. I can’t decide if she is an archetype, hero or champion (or all three) – but I know that she is the perfect embodiment of all the issues, pressures, challenges and dynamics my research is looking at.

My PhD explores NGOs that donate bicycles to rural African girls for greater access to secondary school. So, I read a lot about education, teachers, schooling in rural areas of developing countries, the feminisation of poverty, sociocultural barriers to girls’ education, gender equity and other local and inter/national geo-political issues.

Most people have heard of Malala.

Malala’s father was a teacher at an all-girls’ school in Pakistan. In 2008, the Taliban forcibly closed down their school. Malala publicly spoke out about the rights how girls have the right to an education – she was 11. She was shot in the face as retaliation. After being moved to the UK for her recovery and for safety, she continued to speak out for girls’ education.

She received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014 and was the youngest-ever Nobel laureate. She continues her advocacy and activism work. She travels to many countries to meet girls fighting poverty, wars, child marriage and gender discrimination to go to school. She has spoken at UN National Assemblies and internationally and established the Malala Fund which invests in developing country educators and activists, like her father, through Malala Fund’s Gulmakai Network.

I feel very humbled and inspired by Malala’s story, courage and persistence. She is a remarkable role model, advocate, change agent and activist. I have always been incredibly grateful for having the privilege to undertake my PhD. It is also a way

And on weeks like this one, Malala is a reminder of how important it is to continue and intensify the efforts for girls education.

And with this in mind, I head back to Ethics.

09/10/201810/10/2018

Bicycle Decoration in Northern Nigeria

Post-Sydney conference has been busy with the final teaching week of Trimester 2 which means saying good-bye to classes and completing final assessment marking (*PHEW!*). On the PhD front, I’ve been working on my Ethics Application and putting together a Continuing Scholarship application to go full-time starting next year. During research, I found the below article about Nigerian bicycle decoration in a journal called Africa Arts. It is a blast from the past (1999), but I was delighted to see art bikes being featured in research literature. It gave me hope for academia …and a few ideas for a possible journal article! Below are a few of the more interesting creative highlights from the article. Enjoy! NG.

This week I was stoked to find this article:

Renne, E., & Usman, D. (1999). Bicycle Decoration and Everyday Aesthetics in Northern Nigeria. African Arts, 32(2), 46-92. doi: 10.2307/3337602.

This article starts with a discussion about “the dichotomy perceived to exist between objects considered to be every-day items and those considered to be traditional artworks is artificial in the Northern Nigerian context” (p. 46) and was written to probe the “continuity between the refined and intensified forms of experience that are works of art and the everyday events, doings, and sufferings” (Dewey 1934 p. 3).

Ultimately, the aim of this paper is to explore how the decoration of bicycles and the display of other everyday things in Northern Nigeria reflect an aesthetic process whereby the artist’s technical mastery of materials and creative innovation evokes a pleasurable response in the viewer.

Bicycle Decoration in Northern Nigeria

Essentially, there are two main ways locals Zaria and Jos (Northern Nigeria) decorate their bike:

1. Traditional decoration (has 3 steps)

Step 1: Cloth or paper is used to cover the frame of the bike. Cloth is more expensive, but is washable.

Step 2: The frame is then painted usually in two contrasting colours.

Step 3: Decorative accessories are used for embellishments. These include handlebar tassels, mudguard decorations, fringed seat covers and pedals, plastic flowers and stickers.

2. Stickers only (new style)

Increasingly, coloured and metallic stickers are being used to completely cover the bike. The advantage here is that Day-Glo stickers can be incorporated into the design for increased night riding safety.

It should be noted that when the authors talk about ‘stickers’, they are referring mainly to sticky tape and vinyl/plastic type adhesive stickers (see picture below). The colours and designs of the stickers strongly reflect the local cultural aesthetic – which is best seen incorporated into the local architecture.

Given that this article was published in 1999, there was little access and variety to what we know as ‘stickers’ today. Even so, the idea of covering a bike in stickers still works, especially considering sticker today express messages individually, as well as en masse. So great thought could be applied to the placement, arrangement, colour and the overall message that the owner wants to convey if they were using today’s vast array of sticker types.

Creative take-aways

I found this study interesting as it was focused on the skill of art and craft as a specific cultural signifier – whilst equally emphasising the everyday practicality of bicycles (used as tools, objects and transportation) as being something that is both beautify and functional.

There were a few design, aesthetics and creative approaches to embellishing objects (such as bikes) that were particularly interesting, for example, the concepts of:

conveying a feeling of balance, but not necessarily symmetry
creating a sense of balance amidst uncertainly
fusing material and ideas through technical aptitude
Gell’s (1992) observation that “the awe inspired by the unimaginable technological transformation of materials is akin to being charmed or enchantment” – suggesting an almost magical, anthropomorphic quality to the bicycle designs
that unity in design is temporary
Bamana carver-sculptor have a spirit-mentor to guide their practice and need to show technical aptitude as well as visual imagination to be successful

I also love the idea that bike artists can pursue an ‘aesthetic impulse’ and in decorating a bike there are opportunities for ‘resistance’, such as “striving for discontinuity and disorder”, “novelty in action” and expressing a “greater range and depth of insight and increase poignancy in feeling”.

A bit of cultural context

In Northern Nigeria where this study took place, bicycles are ubiquitous.

They are commonly are associated with long-distance trading and with ritual practices that express certain social (brides ride the handlebars of their grooms bicycles to go to their husband’s houses), psychological (unsafe riding in rural villages suggests mental health issues) and/or literary (bicycles feature in well-known poetry) and political (bicycles were used in a range of political demonstrations) in states.

In the local language, the term kaya is described as an “invaluable word [that] can be used to mean almost anything”, although it may be loosely translated as”load” or as objects related to a certain activity. Thus, just as kayan doki refers to articles associated with horses (doki), kayan keke refers to decorative things associated with bicycles (keke). In the past bicycles have been referred to as dokin k’arfe – or ‘horse of iron’ – which I think it quite apt!

Renne, E., & Usman, D. (1999). Bicycle Decoration and Everyday Aesthetics in Northern Nigeria. African Arts, 32(2), 46-92. doi: 10.2307/3337602.

Full article: Bicycle Decoration in Northern Nigeria (Renne & Usman, 1999)

04/10/201810/10/2018

Bike Palooza Bendigo

30/09/201810/10/2018

World Bicycle Relief Australia – Meeting Dagmar Geiger

The English Australia conference closed a few days ago. But I’ve stayed on in Sydney for some meetings, site visitations and to see family and friends. One meeting, in particular, I have been really looking forward to was with World Bicycle Relief’s Development Director Australia, Dagmar Geiger.

I was very excited to hear last year in May 2017, that WBR was opening a Sydney office.

Regular readers of this blog would be familiar with other posts I’ve uploaded about WBR’s bicycles-for-education programs – and this meeting was a great opportunity to chat with Dagmar in more detail.

World Bicycle Relief Australia – Meeting Dagmar Geiger

We met in a funky Newtown cafe and hit it off immediately.

Dagmar’s enthusiasm and passion for her work are obvious.

She is effervescent and thoughtful – and has a seemingly limitless amount of energy. Dagmar was also very interested in my blog, projects and PhD research and offered to help out where possible – which was so lovely!

We discussed WBR programs and how they are making positive changes in education, healthcare and income-generation opportunities. We also chatted about some events and fundraising efforts she has done.

It was especially interesting to hear about the stakeholder trip she took when she first started. On this trip to Africa, she got to experience first-hand the places, people and projects she now advocates.

It was lovely to be able to chat with a like-minded person who loves bikes and community building as much as I do.

It was a delight to meet Dagmar and hear what WBR has been working on. We need more people like Dagmar sharing stories of bicycles and the positive community impacts they make.

World Bicycle Relief Australia - Meeting Dagmar Geiger. Bicycles Create Change.com 30th September, 2018 — Source: Port Macquarie News

Spreading the word

Since starting her role, Dagmar has been working hard to raise the profile and networks for WBR in Australia and has had a number of high-profile successes including:

In February, retired pro-cyclist Carlee Taylor XXI Commonwealth Games and Junior World Champion pro cyclist Alex Manly, and Olympian BMX pro rider Lauren Reynolds were announced as the first Australian Pro Althele WBR ambassadors.
Dagmar was a guest speaker in Canberra at this year’s International Women’s Day breakfast and supported a number of fundraising rides on the same day.
In March, a partnership with Rob Ward and Chris Peters from Quad Lock, one of Australia’s most successful bicycle products was confirmed.

I am very excited about the possibility of Dagmar visiting Brisbane.

As cyclists and riders, we inherently know how important, useful and significant bikes are. It is also humbling to hear about different experiences and contexts where bikes are helping individuals and communities conquer the challenge of poverty and distance to achieve independence and increase livelihoods.

World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief aims to mobilize people through the Power of Bicycles. They envision a world where distance is no longer a barrier to necessary services like education, healthcare and economic opportunity and are working towards increasing access and equity.

Since 2005, World Bicycle Relief has delivered over 400,000 bicycles and trained over 1, 900 bicycle mechanics and has changed over 1.7 million lives.

For more information and to support, please visit: worldbicyclerelief.org

Follow WBR on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Image: World Bicycle Relief

08/09/201811/09/2018

Along a long road – a bicycle storybook

I saw this book in my local library and I couldn’t resist the cover.

This quirky picture book for preschoolers (ages 3-6) is the first foray into children’s books by Frank Viva, an award-winning illustrator/graphic artist for Esquire, Time and The New Yorker.

The story focuses on a winding, uninterrupted road that is both a stylistic feature of Viva’s work, a fundamental that leads the reader through the story and a necessary motif given this particular story – which is of course…cycling along a lon road!

The road features prominently and runs from the very start of the book by loops across the inside front cover, then out across each page as it weaves around towns, farms, a theme park, forests and past ocean foreshores.

The cyclist is on an elongated bicycle, which he expertly rides through tunnels, over bridges, up and down hills and around bends…. all in order to get to the end FAST – only to start the journey all over again!

Here’s an excerpt:

Along a long road gaining speed

Again and again and again

Along a long road going fast

Around a round bend near the end

And start all over again

This book appears simplistic, however, the winding long road, even cadence of text, the steadfastness of the cyclist and the ever-changing, yet familiar scenery – all have a rhythm and movement that many riders will identify with.

Just like the cyclist in the book, many riders have felt the compulsion to ‘just keep going!’.

The illustrations are minimalist and use a limited palette of four key muted tones to focus attention on the activity in the book.

The pages are thoughtfully designed and are clear and easy to look at. Hidden on pages are little gems, like whales diving in the ocean, dragonflies and tractors in fields.

My favourite part in the book is when the cyclist is stopped by an apple on the road out the front of a library…after the apple is moved, our cyclist is off again after waving to a little boy, his mother and their dog.

Few people know that Frank Viva originally created this project as one continuous, thirty-five-foot-long artwork. Amazing!l Athough Frank might be new to children’s books, he is certainly not new to cycling – as he is an avid rider and has cycle-toured many countries.

I like this book because it reminds me of riding my bike around Brisbane: the bayside, the theme park, the forest and the farming country – and all the happy times I’ve had wooshing around the city and getting to where I want to go FAST ….. it is lovely to see it expressed in such a unique and whimsical way.

More fun picture books for kids about bikes, please!

So, if you see this book in a bookstore or the library – take the time to flip through it- it is an entertaining, easy and highly recommended read.

Thanks Frank!

Video: Frankviva

31/08/201805/09/2018

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 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.

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.

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!

27/08/201829/08/2018

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.

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:

*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!

23/08/201824/08/2018

GCCRP Climate Change Symposium – Abstract

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.

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!

19/08/201825/09/2018

Trail Troll – MTB Art

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.

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.

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!

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!

14/08/201816/08/2018

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.
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.
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.

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…

Elephants are incapable of jumping, but these massive mammals can run at a maximum speed of 25 miles (40 km) per hour.
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.
The elephant’s trunk (called a proboscis) contains 16 muscles.
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!
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.

Category: Community

Bicycle Decoration in Northern Nigeria

Bicycle Decoration in Northern Nigeria

Creative take-aways

A bit of cultural context

Bike Palooza Bendigo

Bike Palooza Bendigo

What’s on?

The Yarn Ride

Along a long road – a bicycle storybook

Along a long road – a bicycle storybook

US National Dog Day

Happy US National Dog Day

BCC loves dogs!

Third Wheel

Trail Troll – MTB Art

Trail Troll- MTB Art

What is the BIFA?

What is the BIFA Trail Mix?