Difference between revisions of "The Biking Revolution"

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The Biking Revolution is happening everywhere, as millions of people choose to ride bikes instead of getting in cars. Events such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass Critical Mass], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Naked_Bike_Ride World Naked Bike Ride], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Free_Day World Car Free Day] draw attention to this growing trend. These events continue to gain more attention and to become more popular and well-known.
 
The Biking Revolution is happening everywhere, as millions of people choose to ride bikes instead of getting in cars. Events such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass Critical Mass], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Naked_Bike_Ride World Naked Bike Ride], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Free_Day World Car Free Day] draw attention to this growing trend. These events continue to gain more attention and to become more popular and well-known.
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==Background==
 
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Since its invention in the 19th century, the bicycle has been used as a form of transportation. In many parts of the world, the bicycle continues to be the primary means of transporting both people and goods. However, in the industrialized world, the bicycle, while still popular, is most often used for exercise or recreation.
 
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Worldwide, bicycle commuting is second only to walking as the most common way of getting to work. But in the industrialized world, especially in the United States, driving to work is much more common than biking to work.
 
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Commuting by bike has never entirely disappeared from US culture. Recently, though, biking as transportation has increased dramatically, as many people have recognized the advantages of riding a bike. Among those advantages are:
 
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      *Better health from exercise
 
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      *Less time spent in traffic jams
 
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      *Less money spent on gasoline and automobile maintenance
 
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      *Enjoyment of the outdoors while commuting
 
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Many people have individually made the choice to increase their use of bicycles and decrease their use of cars. All of these people can be said to be part of the Biking Revolution.
 
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The goal of the Biking Revolution is to support people who have already made the choice to drive less and bike more and to encourage others to do the same.
 
  
 
===Biking Revolution News Toolbar===
 
===Biking Revolution News Toolbar===
 
For the most up-to-date news about the Biking Revolution, you can download the [http://bikingrevolutionnews.media-toolbar.com/ Biking Revolution News Toolbar].
 
For the most up-to-date news about the Biking Revolution, you can download the [http://bikingrevolutionnews.media-toolbar.com/ Biking Revolution News Toolbar].
  
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==Biking Revolution Symbols==
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==Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 - A Symbol ==
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The symbol of the Biking Revolution shows a Biking Revolution band, a piece of used bike inner tube, tied around the wrist of someone on a bike who is passing out flowers.  
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The Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 is a simple piece of used bike inner tube, cut into a thin strip about 1/3rd of an inch wide, and tied around the wrist.  It is an extremely effective organizing tool.  The bracelets can be made very quickly and easily in mass from old bike inner tubes, and can then be passed out at Critical Mass rides, bike workshops, and other biking-related events. The bracelet is a public symbol that people can wear to show that they are part of The Biking Revolution.
  
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Biking Revolution bands can be passed out by people brandishing flowers (or other fun things) at Critical Mass rides, bike workshops, and other biking-related events. The band is a public symbol that people can wear to show that they are part of The Biking Revolution.
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The Biking Revolution symbol can also be included in promotional materials for biking related events and activities, which helps to significantly increase awareness and turn out for these events.
  
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The Biking Revolution symbol can also be included in promotional materials for biking related events and activities, which helps to create greater awareness of the spread of The Biking Revolution.
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===Successful use of The Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0===
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In 2007 college students at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_State Truman State University] in Kirksville, Missouri, along with people from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Rabbit Dancing Rabbit] Ecovillage and The Sanctuary, two communities in Northeastern Missouri (NEMO), passed out Biking Revolution Bracelets, and promotional materials with the Biking Revolution symbol, in what seemed like a small and modest effort to help organize a Critical Mass ride in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirksville Kirksville], MO. The ride became a huge success for the little college town of only 18,000 people, and there are regular Critical Mass ride around 20-40 people in size, during which cyclists regularly pass out flowers to motorists and onlookers. This effort to generate good will between cyclists and motorists has helped to prevent confrontations between the two groups, which have sometimes characterized Critical Mass rides in other places.  
  
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===Goals===
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After the success achieved in organizing Critical Mass, the Students at Truman State went on to use the Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 to promote a bike-in concert that raised funding for a budding student-organized bike co-op.  This event was a hug success, and it provided an opportunity to pass out even more Biking Revolution Bracelets in order to build political support to elect a Biking Revolutionary to the head of the student senate.  Eventually, this organizing culminated in the students convincing the administration of Truman University to open a student run bike shop on campus, which is still in operation today.  
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The goal of both the symbol and the bracelet is to raise awareness of the many virtues of cycling. World Naked Bike Ride, Critical Mass, and other similar events are happening in cities worldwide, and yet it is primarily cyclists who are aware of these events. The intention is to spread The Symbol of the Biking Revolution and get people to wear the Biking Revolution Bracelets to generate much broader recognition for cycling and its benefits.
 
  
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In addition, the flower is intended to inspire people who are part of The Biking Revolution to use creative [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-violence non-violence] in the Biking Revolution activities in which they participate. Passing out flowers is a very effective way to generate good will toward cyclists and can help alleviate the tension and animosity that can form between cyclists and motorists as they try to figure out how to share the road.
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===Newer versions of The Biking Revolution Bracelet===
  
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===Successful use of BR symbols===
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* The Biking Revolution Bracelet 2.0 is a more decorative version of the Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0. It is made of the same material, used bike inner tube, but it is cut into strands and then woven together. This bracelet takes longer to make, but tends to be worn longer because of it's increased aesthetic value.
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College students at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truman_State Truman State University] in Kirksville, Missouri, along with people from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_Rabbit Dancing Rabbit] Ecovillage and The Sanctuary, two communities in Northeastern Missouri, passed out Biking Revolution bracelets, and promotional materials with the Biking Revolution symbol on them to help organize a very successful Critical Mass ride in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirksville Kirksville], MO. Kirksville now has a regular Critical Mass ride, during which cyclists regularly pass out flowers to motorists and onlookers. This effort to generate good will between cyclists and motorists has helped to prevent confrontations between the two groups, which have sometimes characterized Critical Mass rides in other places.  
 
  
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Students at Truman State also used the symbols of the Biking Revolution to promote a bike-in concert that raised funding for a student-organized bike co-op.  
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* The Biking Revolution Watch is an interesting innovation as well.  When an old watch band breaks, you can easily replace it with your Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0.  This adaptation has been picked up independently by Biking Revolutionaries in different locations simply because of it's convenience over purchasing a new watch band or getting a whole new watch.
  
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* The Biking Revolution Bracelet 3.0 is a made of a different material, a used spoke.  It takes much longer to make, but initial testing indicates it is worn for much longer as well.  It is best given as a gift to those who are strongly identified with the biking revolution, and who enjoy wearing jewelery.  Women biking revolutionaries are often the best candidates for wearing these spoke bracelets. 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Latest revision as of 17:16, 28 May 2011

The Symbol of The Biking Revolution

The Biking Revolution of Love & Freedom is filled with revolutionary people all over the world who are compassionately choosing to use a bike for transportation to help the planet and all the people on it, rather than relying on cars and other fossil fuel-burning personal vehicles.

The Biking Revolution is happening everywhere, as millions of people choose to ride bikes instead of getting in cars. Events such as Critical Mass, World Naked Bike Ride, and World Car Free Day draw attention to this growing trend. These events continue to gain more attention and to become more popular and well-known.

Biking Revolution News Toolbar

For the most up-to-date news about the Biking Revolution, you can download the Biking Revolution News Toolbar.

Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 - A Symbol

The Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 is a simple piece of used bike inner tube, cut into a thin strip about 1/3rd of an inch wide, and tied around the wrist. It is an extremely effective organizing tool. The bracelets can be made very quickly and easily in mass from old bike inner tubes, and can then be passed out at Critical Mass rides, bike workshops, and other biking-related events. The bracelet is a public symbol that people can wear to show that they are part of The Biking Revolution.

The Biking Revolution symbol can also be included in promotional materials for biking related events and activities, which helps to significantly increase awareness and turn out for these events.

Successful use of The Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0

In 2007 college students at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, along with people from Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage and The Sanctuary, two communities in Northeastern Missouri (NEMO), passed out Biking Revolution Bracelets, and promotional materials with the Biking Revolution symbol, in what seemed like a small and modest effort to help organize a Critical Mass ride in Kirksville, MO. The ride became a huge success for the little college town of only 18,000 people, and there are regular Critical Mass ride around 20-40 people in size, during which cyclists regularly pass out flowers to motorists and onlookers. This effort to generate good will between cyclists and motorists has helped to prevent confrontations between the two groups, which have sometimes characterized Critical Mass rides in other places.

After the success achieved in organizing Critical Mass, the Students at Truman State went on to use the Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0 to promote a bike-in concert that raised funding for a budding student-organized bike co-op. This event was a hug success, and it provided an opportunity to pass out even more Biking Revolution Bracelets in order to build political support to elect a Biking Revolutionary to the head of the student senate. Eventually, this organizing culminated in the students convincing the administration of Truman University to open a student run bike shop on campus, which is still in operation today.

Newer versions of The Biking Revolution Bracelet

  • The Biking Revolution Bracelet 2.0 is a more decorative version of the Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0. It is made of the same material, used bike inner tube, but it is cut into strands and then woven together. This bracelet takes longer to make, but tends to be worn longer because of it's increased aesthetic value.
  • The Biking Revolution Watch is an interesting innovation as well. When an old watch band breaks, you can easily replace it with your Biking Revolution Bracelet 1.0. This adaptation has been picked up independently by Biking Revolutionaries in different locations simply because of it's convenience over purchasing a new watch band or getting a whole new watch.
  • The Biking Revolution Bracelet 3.0 is a made of a different material, a used spoke. It takes much longer to make, but initial testing indicates it is worn for much longer as well. It is best given as a gift to those who are strongly identified with the biking revolution, and who enjoy wearing jewelery. Women biking revolutionaries are often the best candidates for wearing these spoke bracelets.

External links

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