Crank and Pedal Manila

12th Tour of the Fireflies – Call for Volunteer Marshals

pixelus — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:20:07 +0000

The Tour of the Fireflies “I VOTE TO BIKE!” happening on April 18, 2010 (Sunday) is fast approaching! Signify your intent to be a ride marshal by signing our online form at http://fireflybrigade.blogspot.com

WHAT IS THE TOUR OF THE FIREFLIES?
The Tour of the Fireflies is a 35-kilometer bicycle ride around Metro Manila at an easy, controlled pace that allows everyone, even the occasional bike rider, older children, and senior people to participate and have fun. It is also a costume parade of cyclists leisurely pedaling at an average of 15 kilometers per hour (kph) through different Metropolitan cities. The Tour promotes cycling as a sustainable means of transportation.

The Tour started in 1999 with less than 500 participants growing steadily each year. Volunteers organize the event, a time-consuming and challenging effort that begins at least 5 months before the actual April date of the Tour. More volunteers, approximately numbering 150, operate on the day of the Tour.

WHAT IS A RIDE MARSHAL?
Marshals are volunteers who shepherd the peloton (bicycle caravan) at the Tour of the Fireflies. They serve to guide and protect the group as it winds its way along the route of the Tour. They keep the peloton intact and help cyclists in the Tour who need assistance.

Ride marshals should be physically fit, have basic road riding skills, patient & cool-headed, can follow instructions and can work alone and as part of a team.

WHY IS THE ROLE OF THE MARSHAL CRUCIAL TO THE TOUR?
A lot of riders who join the Tour of the Fireflies do not ride in Metro Manila traffic regularly. Some are children or adults who do not dare to venture out into our metropolis’ busy streets for fear of being bumped by motor vehicles that currently rule our roads. The Tour of the Fireflies gives these riders a chance to bike on our main roads.

Marshals make sure that riders are protected from motor vehicle traffic, keeping the cyclists together and the bicycle caravan intact. It makes the ride enjoyable for all. It helps people to fall in love (even more) with cycling, cycle further beyond the Tour of the Fireflies, and desire for calmer roads that do not discourage the use of bicycles. This is one of the things that the Tour aims for and marshals help in attaining that goal.

WHAT DO WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE DURING THE MARSHAL RIDES?
By riding the route, we familiarize ride marshals with it and help them learn it by heart. Among other things, we will be teaching hand signals, how to keep the peloton safe and intact, what to do in different kinds of situations during the Tour, including a medical emergency. Through the marshal rides, marshals get to know each other so that they can work well as a team.

ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO BE A RIDE MARSHAL?
If you think you are qualified to be a ride marshal, signify your intent by signing our online form at http://fireflybriga de.blogspot. com. After signing the online form, expect a confirmation email from The Firefly Brigade within 2-3 working days.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
You need to attend (1) one of (3) three marshal orientations scheduled on February 14, 21, and 28, 2010 at 8:30am-12:00pm at the Firefly Brigade Headquarters 169 Kamias Road, Kamias, Quezon City. All pertinent information will be discussed during the orientation. Please DO NOT FORGET to bring a pen, personal snacks and drinks.

WHAT IF I DON’T BIKE AND I WANT TO VOLUNTEER?
Please email Denise Matias denise.matias@ gmail.com for other volunteer opportunities. We will be releasing a separate call for general volunteers in the coming week.

If you have other questions in mind that were not answered, please contact
Pogz Estorquia pogzestorquia@ hotmail.com or John Voltaire Lim john_voltaire@ yahoo.com

What Do You Want to Save? – Greenpeace

pixelus — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:48:32 +0000

GREENPEACE International

Dear friend,

I was one of the “Red Carpet Four” activists who gatecrashed the Heads of State dinner at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen last December. Although there were only four of us we were standing alongside the 15 million of you who called for a fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty.

I gave up my freedom in Copenhagen to keep up the pressure on world leaders – my fellow activists and I spent 20 days in jail over Christmas and New Year without trial – and now I’m asking for your help.

The meeting in Copenhagen failed to produce a binding climate deal. But all countries acknowledged the need to keep global temperatures from rising above 2°C and were asked to come up with strong emissions targets to meet that need before January 31st.

That deadline has passed but the targets countries have put forward still set us on the path to catastrophic runaway climate change. Current targets will result in a 3°C rise or more – the consequences of which would be disastrous for the planet and humanity.

All of our joint efforts to save the climate do not need to be in vain – but we must keep the pressure on world leaders. We must continue to tell them that their response to climate change has not been strong enough.

I am asking you to show them why you take action on climate change. I do it because I want to safeguard my children’s future – what do you want to save?

I look forward to seeing what inspires you to take action. We’ll be displaying images of what you want to save on our website and also use some of them at key events over the coming months.

Thank you for your continuing support,

Nora Christiansen
Greenpeace Activist

Start of Basic Firefly Flight Training for the Firefly Brigade

pixelus — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:38:24 +0000

Do you have an infectious love for cycling? a spirit of volunteerism? a strong sense of community? positive action for the environment?

Are you gender-sensitive and non-discriminating? Do you have a responsible cycling behavior?

If you do, then joining the Firefly Brigade Core Group might just be for you!

The Firefly Brigade is now inviting interested applicants for the

Basic Firefly Flight Training (FFT),

a 3-Sunday workshop on Bike Safety, Bike Maintenance, Road Etiquette, and the Firefly Brigade work

which will start on Sunday, January 24, from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Registration: 8.30am

Venue: Firefly Brigade Headquarters, 169 Kamias Road near corner Langka St., Kamias, Quezon City.

Application Fee: Php100.00 – proceeds will go to Firefly projects

Bring: pen, paper or notebook, personal snacks & drinks, own bike (if you don’t have one yet, please inform us)

For inquiries, please contact:
Rosar Crisostomo
VP & Membership Head
rosar_c@yahoo. com
9225616

Multiply: tourofthefirelies. multiply. com
Twitter: fireflybrigade
Website: fireflybrigade. org

4th Annual Firefly Brigade Christmas Gift-giving Ride

pixelus — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:14 +0000

Have a meaningful and non-traditional bicycle ride around the city…

Ride the 4th Annual Firefly Brigade Christmas Gift-giving Ride

Each year for the past three years, we don our santa claus and fairy costumes to go around Metro Manila to give out lootbags to kariton families along our usual bike commute routes to school, work or errands.

Be a part of this annual yuletide CMR… no registration fees to be collected.

When                              December 19, Saturday
Registration                   3.00-3.30pm Meet, Mingle, be Merry!
Assembly/Briefing       3.45
Ride Out                        4.00pm
Lootbag-giving              4.00-6.30pm
ETA FB HQ                  7pm

Requirements for joining the ride:
1) Physically able to carry at least two lootbags in your own backpack for the duration of the ride

(In case of back problems, you can be our candy man or woman… carry candies for giving away to kids, street families, traffic enforcers, takatak boys/girls and bystanders)

2) Contribute two lootbags (more if you like!) for the ride

3) Wear a Xmas Costume or have a Xmas accent on your bicycle…

4) If under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

5) Must have blinkers, wear a helmet (if not wearing a santa hat), enough water for the ride

6) Exchange Gift for Xmas Dinner (must be a pre-owned item, see details below)

One (1) Lootbag must contain at least:
1.5kg – 2kgs rice
2 Foil Packs of Sardines or canned goods
2 Mami Packs

Other Add ons (Optional, not required)
New/pre-owned t-shirt

Laundry soap (wrapped in newspaper or new/pre-owned t-shirt)
Towel
Blanket
Candies
Crackers
Slippers
Toys

You may also donate in bulk any of the following, we’ll pack it for you!
Cash

Rice Packs
Rice Cavans
Canned Goods
Candies
Soap
Mami
Pre-owned shirts big enough for wrapping loot in
Food for After-ride Xmas Dinner

We will accept goods at Firefly Brigade’s Headquarters (169 Kamias Road near corner Langka St., Kamias, QC 386.3926 / 9220368 / 0906.3231200) until December 17, 7pm.

Drop-off times are from 1-7pm only. You may also come early on ride day to help pack last minute donations.

P.S.:

Please join the Firefly Brigade Christmas Dinner after the Ride!

Bring 1 gift (recycled or something pre-owned from your home, or if brand new, priced under P40).

Ride Planet Earth (Manila)

pixelus — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:54:35 +0000

Ride Planet Earth (Manila)
“Reduce CO₂ Emissions:
Start Cycle Change, Stop Climate Change”

On 6th December ‘09 cyclists around the globe will take to the streets, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change.
The next day in Copenhagen, 7th December ‘09 the COP15 negotiations begin. Ride Planet Earth aims to help convince the governments meeting there to take immediate action.
Participants can record video messages to send to the COP15, stating not only why action is necessary, but also what they will be doing about it personally, to show that if governments don’t take the lead, ordinary people will.

The Ride Planet Earth Campaign Video

The event began as a solo bicycle journey by Kim Nguyen from Brisbane, Australia to Copenhagen, to collect messages from people already effected by climate change.
Over the course of the journey a movement developed such that there are now rides occuring on every continent bar Antarctica.

RIDE PLANET EARTH MANILA

December 6, 2009 (Sunday)
Meet up: 3:30pm Araneta Center Parking Lot between Shopwise and Rustan’s
Ride out: 4:00pm
Route:
From Araneta Center, ride out to

P. Tuason (Crossing EDSA)

Left at N. Domingo

Right at Doña Hemady or Gilmore(Crossing Aurora Boulevard)

Left at E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave.

-Straight until Welcome Rotonda

U-turn from Quezon Avenue to España

Right at A. Maceda or Blumentritt Street

Left at Dimasalang

Left at Gov. Forbes

-Straight until Nagtahan Flyover

Left at Ramon Magsaysay

-Straight until Aurora Boulevard

Cross EDSA

Back to Cubao, Araneta Center
Please do not forget your night ride gear and your demands or reminders for the Philippine government for the climate negotiations! We’ll put it on record and fly it all the way to Copenhagen!
All the details about where rides are taking place can be found at the Ride Planet Earth website or the Ride Planet Earth facebook page.

Coordinators:
Densio Matias and John Voltaire Lim
Firefly Brigade
Phone: +63917-4280966 and /or +63917-3903734

Project Manager:
Kim Paul Nguyen
kim@rideplanetearth .org
Facebook: The Ride Planet Earth Challenge
Skype: kim.paul.nguyen1
www.rideplanetearth .org

Global warming is the biggest threat the human race has ever faced.

It will affect every one of us, and our future children.

On Monday the 7th of December 2009, the world’s governments – including that of the Philippines – will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, to decide what to do about it.

On Sunday the 6th of December, Manila will join major cities all over the world to let their governments know that the world is watching.

We will take to the streets on bicycles at 3:30pm, starting from Araneta Center Cubao, and we invite you to join us.

The meeting at Copenhagen will probably yield the most important environmental decision that will ever have been made. Let’s make sure it’s the right one!

Tronix is giving away 36 units of FREE EBIKES!

pixelus — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:39:40 +0000

Going Gr een? Tronix is giving away 36 units of FREE EBIKES!

Hello,

Floods. Super typhoons. Heat waves. Land slides. We are all seeing the effects of global warming.

And it’s time to act and contribute even in our small little ways.

And let’s start with green transport, as part of going green advocacy project,

Innovatronix is giving away e-bikes for FREE!

Yes, free ebikes for individuals or organizations based in the Philippines who are active in promoting green and eco-friendly living.

Ebikes, other than being fun and easy ride, promotes green living by being an environment-friendly mode of transport – it’s electric and clean.

There will be three (3) FREE Tronix e-bikes per month for the next 12 months for a total of 36 e-bikes! (one e-bike per individual or organization) so HURRY! ACT NOW or PASS THIS EMAIL AROUND, as this is a FIRST APPROVED, FIRST SERVED BASIS. (Btw, the ebike retails for Php 24,900)

If you think that you or your organization needs a Tronix Ebike, submit your letter of request and application form to gogreenebike@innovatronix.com.

For more info or questions, contact Ryan Untalan or Sheryll Franciso at 02-6451592/ 02-6456124 or 0923-6576946 (sun cellular)

Sincerely,

Go Green & e-bikes Project

Corporate Social Responsibility Group

Innovatronix Inc

For other info:

Here is what we are looking for:

Must be based in the Philippines;
Must be active in promoting green and eco-friendly living
Must have a proven track record in promoting green and eco-friendly living
Must have a need for an ebike in the promotion of this advocacy

Or for more details, visit, http://www.innovatronix.com/gogreenebike.asp

World Car Free Day Ride

pixelus — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:17:21 +0000

Start: Sep 19, ‘09
Location: Around Metro Manila
Hey, Metro Manila… get out of your cars and get on your bikes. We’re celebrating World Car-free Day Ride (WCFD Ride) on September 19!

start/end: Tiendesitas, Pasig

assembly time: 2..30-3.00pm

ride out: 3.30pm

pace: 12-18kph

route: Metro Manila (Tiedesitas – Pasig – Marikina – Tiendesitas)

distance: 30km

riding skill level: newbie (na malakas ang loob) to intermediate

age: open to all ages
(children below 18yrs old, must be accompanied by a biking parent)

We’re going through traffic…. lots!

registration: free

You can also buy our special edition “Explore your city on a bicycle” Firefly Brigade AdvocacyTee( P250.00) onsite on the 19th, come early…. limited supply.

Get your tee also @ the Firefly Brigade t-shirt and bikestuff sale
on September 13, Sunday, 8am to 2pm.
169 Kamias road corner Langka, Quezon City, 386-3926.

See details in a separate post (calendar, september 13)

Must bring : Raingear and blinkers for night and rain riding, water, snackbars, extra moolah for your after ride snacks

No helmet, No Ride!

Note:
Please feel free to stay after the ride and join us for after-ride kwentuhan at Tiendesitas.

Check out the new bikeshop there…

Share your thoughts about your WCFD ride experience.

Find out about latest scoops about the forthcoming October Ride with Ms. Earth, November Clean Air Ride and the Christmas Ride in December.

Let’s enjoy the music from the regular saturday bands at Tiendesitas. ..

Dutch (KKB) Dinner!

Please wear any of your Tour of the Fireflies jersey/t-shirts or your bike statement t-shirts..

————————————————————————————————————

If you’re in the city of Pines, please check out details for the
Sept 19 World Car-free Day Ride in Baguio being organized by Bliss Cafe -
http://blissnbaguio.multiply.com/calendar/item/10117
____________________________________________________________

WCFD Background

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighborhood blocks

to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.

We do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to “normal” life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars.

It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.

Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year.

As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians

to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile. – http://www.worldcar free.net/ wcfd/

Some cities have WCFD week-long celebrations and some cities celebrate the weekend before the 22nd. We’re celebrating ours on September 19,

leave your cars at home…. let’s bike!

Bikes in Compromising Positions

pixelus — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:32:56 +0000

Got this from

The Toy Zone

Toy related antics from around the world

Sept 8 (Tuesday) BIKE RALLY AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING (Countdown to Copenhagen Summit)

pixelus — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:18:33 +0000

Start:	Sep 8, ‘09 05:30a
End:	Sep 8, ‘09 11:00a

Type of Ride: Climate Change Campaign Bike Rally
Riding Skill: Intermediate (pace 15kph)
Organizer: Greenpeace

Sept 8 (Tuesday) BIKE RALLY AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING (Countdown to Copenhagen Summit)
5.30am meet-up at Greenpeace Office
Room 301 JGS Building, #30 Scout Tuason Street, 1103
Quezon City, the Philippines
tel: +63-2-3321807
fax:+63-2-332- 1806
Contact: Francis dela Cruz 09178542103

7.00am meet-up at Makati City Hall Foyer (Old Buildling)

Take off to go to US Embassy and Embassy of Sweden to visit officials and remind them of their pivotal role for the fight for climate change measures at the Copenhagen Summit.
The Bike Rally, spearheaded by Greenpeace and OxFam, will ask the US and European Union to act to halt gloal warming and climate change.

“The world’s leaders meet at the end of 2009 in Copenhagen to determine the fate of the climate. They could set us on the path to a deep emissions cuts or they could lock the planet into catastrophic, irreversible climate change. “
The success of the Copenhagen Summit will be measured by the following demands being met:

* Developed countries, as a group, must reduce emissions by at least 40% by 2020 (from 1990 levels)
* Invest $140billion a year for developing countries to adapt to climate change, switch to renewable energy and stop deforestation
* Deforestation must end by 2015

Read other Copenhagen Summit details at: http://www.greenpea ce.org/seasia/ en/campaigns/ climate-change/ change-is- coming

Those who are free on that day, please do join the ride. Non-motorized Transportation (NMT) is part of the solution to climate change. Greenpeace’s Francis dela Cruz affirmed that the NMT agenda will be included in the future campaigns/press- releases related to the Copenhagen countdown. Let’s support this ride. We expect to finish on or before noon.

———— ——— ——— ——— ——— ——-

PROGRAM
CEREMONIAL UNVEILING OF COUNTDOWN/TIMER
FOR THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT

September 8, 2009, Tuesday, 8:00 – 11:00 AM

7:00-7:30 Registration and Briefing of Bikers

7.30- 8:00 Mass-up in an area

with a prominent electronic billboard/Makati City Hall

8:00-8:30 Opening Program

Background (Objectives/ Purpose) of the Project by Greenpeace

Acknowledgement of Partners/Guests/ Participants

Short Message by Hon. Jejomar C. Binay

Reading of Content Letter (Summary) to Concerned Embassies

Unveiling and Flag-off Bikers by Mayor Jejomar Binay

8:30-9:00 Ride to Swedish Consulate (15 min stop)

16th Floor, PCI Bank Tower 2 Building, Makati Ave. , cor Dela Costa St. , Makati City

9:00-10:00 Ride to US Embassy (15 min stop)

Roxas Boulevard

11:00 Ride to dispersal area ( Malate Church )

Helmet Fail

pixelus — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:34:32 +0000