- Title: PHILIPPINES: Thousands of Filipino cyclists bike for clean air ahead of Earth Day
- Date: 18th April 2010
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (APRIL 18, 2010) (REUTERS) THOUSANDS OF CYCLISTS BIKING ALONG MAJOR THOROUGHFARE CROWDS OF CYCLISTS BIKING TOP VIEW OF CYCLISTS CLOSE VIEW OF CYCLIST MAN WATCHING THE BICYCLE PARADE FROM A FOOT BRIDGE CYCLIST WEARING A TREE COSTUME CYCLIST WEARING A COSTUME DEPICTING A GRASS HUT CYCLIST WEARING A ROOSTER HEADDRESS THOUSANDS OF CYCLISTS NAVIGATING A BRIDGE, HANDICAPPED MAN CYCLING PARADE OFFICIALS CYCLING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOUR OF THE FIREFLIES, PRESIDENT, RICKY PINEDA, SAYING: "We're doing the twelfth 'Tour of the Fireflies: I Vote to Bike' because we want the people to vote to change their lifestyles. For so long we've been trapped in cars that produce fumes and we have to make choices just like the way we make choice of our leaders." CYCLISTS IN PETER PAN AND AVATAR COSTUMES CLOSE VIEW OF BICYCLE TILT UP TO CYCLIST WEARING PETER PAN AND AVATAR COSTUME (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) CYCLIST IN AVATAR (JAKE SULLY) COSTUME ZALDY REABAD SAYING: "Cycling is very important because it lessens the pollution in Metro Manila." CYCLIST IN TREE COSTUME CLOSE VIEW OF THE BICYCLE'S WHEEL AND RIDER'S FEET SIGN DISPLAYED IN THE TREE COSTUME THAT READS "TREES BARE FRUITS NOT FACES OF POLITICIANS" (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) CYCLIST IN BANANA TREE COSTUME BOBOT LABARO SAYING: "More people should be encouraged to use bicycles especially on Sundays. Because Sunday is a rest day, people should take a break from using motor vehicles. Biking is better." CYCLISTS NAVIGATING A BRIDGE THOUSAND OF CYCLISTS BIKING DOWN THE BRIDGE'S SLOPE CROWD OF CYCLISTS
- Embargoed: 3rd May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Environment / Natural World,Lifestyle
- Reuters ID: LVA33K10KAOWKJUK62VFPLZFRF65
- Story Text: The Firefly Brigade of the Philippines cycled along Manila's avenues on Sunday (April 18), on its annual bike ride to promote environmental awareness.
Dubbed as the "Tour of the Fireflies," the group promotes the bicycle as an alternative means of transportation that promotes cleaner air and a more habitable environment.
Around 8,000 bikers from all over Manila rode the streets with colorful campaign banners and political ads.
Taking off from the Philippine elections set to take place on May 10, this year's theme "I vote to bike" advocated for non-motorised transportation as an equally important means of expressing nationalism.
"We're doing the twelfth 'Tour of the Fireflies: I Vote to Bike' because we want the people to vote to change their lifestyles. For so long we've been trapped in cars that produce fumes and we have to make choices just like the way we make choice of our leaders," Tour of the Fireflies President Ricky Pineda said.
The environmentalists expect that climate change will be an an issue seriously taken up by those who get elected.
In light of the tragedy brought by supertyphoon "Ketsana" last year, the riders passed through flood-devastated areas in Manila and adjacent towns.
Pineda said the bicycle played a major role during the calamity, delivering water and food supplies to the victims while motor vehicles were stranded in floods. Authorities estimated "Ketsana" damage at around 4.69 billion pesos ($98.5 million). More than 1.9 million people were affected and 375,000 were left homeless.
The Firefly Brigade is a volunteer action group formed in 1991 to campaign for clean air and a sustainable environment. Its name recalls the old days when fireflies, an indicator of clean air, swarmed the city.
"Cycling is very important because it lessens the pollution in Metro Manila," said carpenter Zaldy Reabad, who donned an Avatar costume during the parade.
The group also aims to cultivate a "bicycle-riding culture" by pushing for the construction of bike lanes, bike parking and bike racks.
"More people should be encouraged to use bicycles especially on Sundays. Because Sunday is a rest day, people should take a break from using motor vehicles. Biking is better," said retired employee Bobot Labaro, who dressed up as a banana tree.
Notorious for traffic congestion, Manila is home to around 1.7 million registered motor vehicles. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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