- Title: PHILIPPINES: Thousands of cyclists join pre-earth day bicycle parade
- Date: 19th April 2011
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (APRIL 17, 2011) (REUTERS) CYCLISTS IN PARADE CROWD OF CYCLISTS BIKING MEN RIDING BIKES BICYCLE WHEELS VARIOUS OF CYCLISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EVENT MARSHAL, MONICO VIENO, SAYING: "Of course the Philippines is very polluted and overcrowded with cars. Maybe it's time that some people use their bikes and promote clean, green air." CYCLIST IN GREEN COSTUME VARIOUS OF CYCLISTS WEARING SUPERHERO COSTUMES CYCLIST PEDRITO LAGUNO SHOWING RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLE RAFT ATTACHED TO BICYCLE PHILIPPINE FLAG TILT DOWN TO RECYCLED PLASTIC RAFT (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) BIKE PARADE PARTICIPANT AND RETIRED SHIP COOK, PEDRITO LAGUNO, SAYING: "This can be used to save lives during floods. This is a life saver. You can use these to build a small boat." CYCLIST IN COCONUT COSTUME PREPARING HIS BIKE CLOSE VIEW OF BIKE WITH COCONUT HUSK IN FRONT (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) BIKE PARADE PARTICIPANT AND BIKE TECHNICIAN, ERNESTO TORRES, SAYING: "Almost all of the participants here have cars. It's a big thing that they did not use their cars today, they did not consume gas. We were able to save energy that way." VARIOUS OF CYCLISTS BIKING ALONG HIGHWAY CYCLISTS GOING UP A RAMP
- Embargoed: 4th May 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines, Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAE18AD0Z8775DKJPQA3H6NF0MT
- Story Text: Thousands of cyclists joined the annual bicycle parade in Manila on Sunday (April 17) to campaign for clean air and sustainable environment as part of their Earth Day celebrations.
Cyclists peddled through the 42 kilometre (27 miles) stretch, passing nearby cities and main streets in Manila as they try to bring attention to alternative forms of transportation to the world.
The Firefly Brigade, an environmental cyclists group who organised the annual cycling parade, says they want the government to recognise bicycles as an alternative form of transportation and push forward with the implementation of bike lanes along main roads in Manila.
With the support of around 15,000 cyclists joining the parade, the group is lobbying for the bike lanes as it could potentially reduce traffic and pollution brought by excess vehicles.
"Of course the Philippines is very polluted and overcrowded with cars. Maybe it's time that some people use their bikes and promote clean, green air," says event marshal Monico Vieno.
Some participants wore colorful costumes imitating plants and animals as their own style of interpreting ecological awareness while a group of men dressed up as main characters of a children's program which delighted the audience.
One participant chose to use recycled plastic bottles to design his bicycle to express how useful these bottles are.
"This can be used to save lives during floods. This is a life saver. You can use these to build a small boat," says Pedrito Laguno, a retired ship cook.
The bicycle parade hopes to increase awareness on alternative transportation and to promote a cleaner air in the congested city. They believe being able to participate in the massive bike ride helps save energy even just for a day.
"Almost all of the participants here have cars. It's a big thing that they did not use their cars today, they did not consume gas. We were able to save energy that way," says participant and bike technician Ernesto Torres.
In one of Manila's main road, EDSA highway, an average of 1.7 million vehicles pass through its roads daily, aggravating traffic conditions especially during rush hours.
The Philippines has over three million registered vehicles in Manila, with air pollution and traffic congestions a large problem in the main roads of the city, prompting environmentalists to urge alternative ways of transport.
Earth Day is an annual celebration around the world that seeks to promote and appreciate the world's natural environment. The event is commonly celebrated on April 22 as declared by the United Nations, but the Philippines held most of its activities earlier to accommodate the Catholic Lent.
The bike run caps off the country's early Earth Day celebration while other bike rides are simultaneously conducted in different parts of the Philippines. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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