Bikes rock, minister sir Foong Wai Fong | Jun 30, 08 12:22pm Last week, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz MCPX *remarked* <http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84890> that bicycles are for * "main-main"* suggesting that they are not good solution to the urgent quest for efficient public transportation.
Let me bring an onsite report from Europe and share with Malaysians what reputed and sophisticated cities think of bicycles. In the days before the Asian middle-class emerged, bicycles serves as the most flexible means for individuals to go point to point. [image: beijing story 010805 street crowd]China was known as the bicycle country, hundreds of millions of bicycles race on the streets of Chinese cities - it wasn't cool then - an essential transportation vehicle for the majority of people before they embraced the private car. By and large, bicycles have diminished in importance from the lifestyle of most Asians, although innovation and designs of bicycles continue to improve. Although the Chinese middle-class are no longer so hot on bikes, China today still produce the largest number of bicycles, and there is a range of models, from the functional practical bike, battery-assisted bikes to sophisticated and stylish bikes for leisure and mountain biking. The Dutch people attach the most importance to their bikes. Bikes have remained on the streets of Dutch cities, with special lanes for bicycles clearly drawn in the transportation grid. From the photos taken of Rotterdam, the bikes lane is laid with red stones. "In Holland, we use the bike everyday, to go to work, go about our errands. Few people drive, and if they do, it is for the weekend. We love our bikes," said my very stylish Dutch host, a 30-something Dutch lawyer who cycles to work every day. [image: trishaw bicycle]It only takes 15 minutes from my home to my office - it gives me to think, to exercise and to feel the breeze - and I enjoy the trip. Unlike Americans who only leisure bike, for us the bicycle is our essential daily transportation vehicle. Old and young, man and women, fancy and versatile. Versatility in that some have extensions to carry light weight goods, some grandma trishaws to help children commute and shop. Careful study of Dutch cities road layout and designs will show tram lanes, bus lane in the centre and a single lane for private cars. It reflects the importance the city places on public transportation and its attitude towards resource allocation. Apart from its efficiency and maximisation of resources; the need to cut down carbon emission has motivated this lifestyle change. Cycling today, Mr Minister, is the latest green and cool lifestyle, which many cities are working to bring back into their city profile. *Cyclocity France* Cyclocity is a hugely successful invention by outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux revolutionising the way people travel. First pilot in Lyon, Cyclocity is a cost-effective, sustainable transport option that helps minimise the impact of traffic and congestion in towns and cities. The easy-to-use system allows the hire of a bicycle from one location and its return to another. It has proven to be a viable alternative to private vehicles and complementary to public transport. JCDecaux's Cyclocity was awarded the 2006 Janus de l'Industrie label from the French Design Industry. Experts in design and manufacture award products which provide real benefits to users. Working in a private-pubic partnership with French cities JCDecaux's has taken the cycling model one stage further; public bicycles. France's second largest city Lyon, adopted the system in May 2005. It has been a huge success, with people combining cycles and other modes of transport to reach work or leisure destinations. There are now 2,000 bicycles and 175 pick up/drop off ranks installed, there are up to 16,000 rentals per day, each bicycle used by up to 15 people each day and the average journey time is 17 minutes and 1.7 miles in distance, and free if the user does not take the bike for over 30 minutes. Started in summer of 2007 Cyclocity opened its service in Paris. Thousands of low-cost rental bikes appeared at hundreds of high-tech bicycle stations scattered throughout the city. The plan is to have 20,600 bikes at 1,450 stations, approximately one every 250 yards across the city. Free to residents - tourists can rent for a nominal fee - unless they use it for more than 30 minutes. Rent is 70 pence every half hour. Theft is minimised by unique bike design, highly secure parking facilities and mandatory credit or debit card payment. If a bicycle is not returned, the hirer is charged around £100. London is examining the feasibility of a bicycle hire scheme to promote cycling in the capital. In recent years, cycling has increased by 83 percent in the English capital; New York is working on similar plan while another Cyclocity scheme was installed in Brussels. So Europe is going all out to embrace the bicycle. *Malaysians can cycle* [image: pkr mp bicycle ride to parliament 230608 02]Community groups in Malaysia must petition their local, state and federal government to adjust infrastructure to enable bicycles to return to Malaysian towns. MPs and Aduns, must go bipartisan on this matter and work hand in hand to realise it. To make cycling efficient and pleasant, a number of adjustments in the design of the physical environment must take class to accommodate local terrain, security and weather conditions: 1. Work to introduce and popularise the bicycle as a feeder vehicle. Provide brightly lit and accessible parking stations to protect the bikes. Explore rental models of Cyclocity. If the federal government takes too long to respond, work with the local developer to reroute the traffic flow to enable this design to take place. All housing developers pay attention to incorporate this design in all new schemes. 2. Work with local authorities to ensure bicycle paths are repaired and installed to allow cyclists its own feeder link to the main transportation links. Build rain shelters and plant trees along these paths to provide shade and protection against rain and storms, take care to ensure these shelters are lightning proof. 3. Because of our tropical weather, bikers need bathing facilities. Build well equipped free public bathrooms and make it mandatory for buildings to include public bathrooms to enable ordinary wage earners to take a shower upon arrival should they decide to cycle to work. To help Malaysians change to this healthier and more sustainable lifestyle, the supporting amenities must be created and provided at no charge or a very low charge to assure good maintenance. 4. Begin today start to plant or replant trees, flowering trees preferred along the cycling path. In a couple of years, the city will be very cooling and beautiful. More trees, fewer cars will cut carbon emission. Malaysia, should join the rest of the more 'aware' cities in the West, set reduction in carbon emission targets, and strive to become as clean and green as possible. If more Malaysians bike, we will have a healthier Malaysia. The oil price hike is a global crisis of mega proportion, however it can also be turned into an opportunity for change. Let me remind the minister, cycling is not *"main-main"* business. It is serious *jimat-jimat* business. Since the oil prices are rising and subsidies disappearing we need to build good bicycle lanes so the public has a good alternative. ------------------------------ FOONG WAI FONG is director of Megatrends Asia and best selling author of *Megatrends Asia* (with John Naisbitt),* We have to talk Mr Prime Minister, The New Asian Way*, and* Culture i**s Good Business*. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Calling all Malaysians: Walk the Talk *ENOUGH, WE WANT GOOD PUBLIC TRANSPORT* Join this campaign at http://www.pahlawan.com.my
