This Train Just Keeps Getting Worse
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The cuentakilómetros
Some times politicians promise new bike lines in political campaigns and after they win the elections, they mysteriously forget what have announced thus cheating on their voters. Cities inhabitants have two options: Make as nothing happened or fight for the promised bike lines. Regarding the second point, there is un action, the Cuentakilómetros (in Spanish) originally created in Málaga (Spain) and replicated for other cities. It consisted in using an interactive map with a progress bar in Google Maps in which one could see the evolution of bike lines being built.
The urban bike group Ruedas Redondas was upset about the promise that the mayor proposed in the political campaign (to double the number of bike lines kilometers in Málaga, from 45 to 90) and the lack of pieces of news on media about the new projects and on the streets. So, they created the Cuentakilómetros (the technological tool that I have commented) for every person to see how the evolution was. For this gentle way of showing reality, Ruedas Redondas only had to check media and public trading platforms for newness and update it. This way, cyclist could see the evolution of bike lines creation and confirm that it is impossible to trust on politicians who promote motor vehicles instead of bicycles under a climate change challenge. Smart people will remember the lack of such bike lines when voting again.
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Ideas for governments and companies
It is well-known that going to work by bicycle is good for the glucose and cholesterol levels, stress reduction, good mood and productivity increment. Indeed, according to the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructures 80% of workers who pedal to work show a better compromise between companies and their jobs, and their work absenteeism diminishes. Moreover, diabetes is reduced by 20%. Not surprisingly, open-minded governments promote the use of bicycles with strategies such as giving social benefits to workers who buy bikes through firms (these get tax reductions), those workers who ride to the office obtain money per pedaled kilometer, urban biking promotion not only the Day of the Bike but 365 days in a year, a day for bike maintenance, free subscription to public bikes, bike lines and bicycle parking building. In return, sanitary costs are reduced and environment improves not only because bikes do not pollute in the using stage, but also as a result of if a person uses a bike instead of a car she provokes the same emissions diminishing as one tree every month.
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Can a bicycle owner be determined by her bike?
This is a thought that I have been chewed on it for a time. It implies that given all the different bike types and accessories, they tell about their personality and interests owners somehow. Indeed, when you periodically meet bikers from time to time, for instance in the Critical Mass, you could not remember the name of each and every cyclist if it is a numerous group. But you recognize them by their bicycles if you have previously seen their possessors, even if you have not meet them for a long time giving they still maintain the same bike. Personality is shown through bike kinds (mountain bike – a person who enjoys riding mountains, hybrid bike – possibly somebody who does bike-tourism, road bike, etc.) and accessories (bicycle basket – there is or has been a child, saddlebags – a bike-tourist, rear-view mirror – somebody who usually pedals on car lines…).