16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
When was the last time you saw fireflies? The fireflies have fled because of air pollution. All of us are in danger of disappearing like fireflies, but we can fight for clean air and bring the fireflies back.
The Big Ride . . . and Having Fun By Ramon Fernan
Illustration by Katti Sta. Ana
The Big Ride is a turning point in the Firefly Brigade's organizational orientation and work. It is supposed to mark the transformation of the Firefly Brigade from its very specific advocacy for bicycling to the broader advocacy of public mobility without adding to the environmental and social pressures that strain our planet's resources. Far from leaving its advocacy for bicycling, the Brigade will endeavor to take its experience of many years in bicycle advocacy to bear on the promotion of better public transportation options as well as of meeting private mobility needs that minimize economic and environmental costs and impacts. In this broader field of action, the buzzword seems to be integration – integrating multiple modes of transportation (multi-modal), including public transport, motorized and non-motorized vehicles, “smart” technologies such as phones with mobile apps, to get people to share the resources that enable their mobility – mobility with which to access the services that people depend on for their wellbeing. To pursue this goal, the Brigade will expand the knowledge and skills of its staff and members to embrace the latest mobility options and to work with its partners—the LGUS, NGOs, cycling clubs, and the general public—as an expert advocate of mobility services that are continue to page 3
One Pedal Revolution at a Time This is my third term (two years each) as president of the Firefly Brigade (2002-2004, 2004-2006, & 2015-2016). In my last year as an officer in 2006 and before I went into "semi retirement" to explore the racing side of cycling, I brought up the idea of doing simultaneous rides throughout the country to coincide with the annual Tour of the Fireflies. It was then met with reservations by the members of the Brigade as the resources and energies of the Brigade focused on our activities in Metro Manila. Fortunately the idea caught on with officers who followed my term and they carried it through, coordinating with groups in other cities and provinces, to organize such rides. These rides shared the Brigade's advocacy of Promoting the Bicycle for Clean Air and Sustainable Communities. It was a free idea and movement with no strings or frills attached. It was a union of like-hearted and like-minded people of different backgrounds pulled together in a human and friendly network encouraging diversity and independence. This bicycling movement is coming back this year in time for the BIG Ride. As of this writing our partners have confirmed that they will ride together in support of the advocacy of the Tour of the Fireflies and the Firefly Brigade.
By: Jack Yabut
Rides are being organized in the following areas (partner contact information is available upon request): 1. Bulusan, Sorsogon – contact: Mr. David Payos / Camp David Biker's Station 2. Catarman, Samar – contact Ms. Monina Tarce / Scout City Road and Mountain Bike (SCRAMB) 3. Calbayog City Samar – contact: Mr. Ashley Albaña / Samar Off Road Bikers Association (SORBA) 4. Catbalogan City – contact: Mr. Joel Cinco / Samar Mountain Bikers Adventure 5. Bacolod City – contact: DANS Bike Shop / (34) 4337823 6. Iloilo City – contact: Mr. Rock Drilon and Councilor Jay Treñas 7. Dumaguete City – contact: Mr. Dondee Señeris / Dumaguete Cycling Advocates Network 8. Davao City – contact: Ms. Monica Ayala / Cycle for Life We are known by different names, we are free, we are friends, and this is— Our Movement, One Pedal Revolution at a time— for our country, the planet, and ourselves. MakiBike Na!
The Future of Bicycle Commuting is . . .
Electric By Ramon Fernan
Like it or not, the future of bicycle commuting is going to be electric – a bicycle powered by an electric motor, that is. It could be a pedal assist bike or be totally driven by just the motor, with pedaling optional. The purists may cringe but this seems to be a reasonable option. The availability of an inexpensive and durable electric bicycle (ebike) has the potential of significantly increasing the number of people using bikes for short commutes to work, school, the market, etc., something that no amount of tedious advocacy, government laws and ordinances, bike lanes, or any of the other myriad measures that bike advocates have traditionally fought tooth and nail for with little success can ever hope to accomplish. The reasoning is simple: an electric bike multiplies the advantages of bike commuting in terms of time spent navigating through traffic-clogged streets while at least minimizing the inconvenience of sweating buckets while pedaling. Let's face it, one of the drawbacks of bicycling in a tropical country is the yearround hot and humid weather, especially if one is going to work or school or some other destination that demands some decent form of clothing other than spandex jersey and shorts. And those who want a workout while commuting can still pedal, with or without the motor's assistance. A shower and changing facility at the destination would be ideal but it is a rarity.
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Many of the large bicycle manufacturers and brands, including Trek and Cannondale, already have ebikes in their product lineups so there is definitely a market. What is preventing it from exploding is the state of energy storage technology – the greatest limiting factor in the ebike's public acceptance. Batteries are still heavy with limited range, the best ones are very expensive, and that keeps ebike prices up. But electric vehicle development, including for cars and other heavy vehicles, is ever progressing. Ebikes have been around for probably more than a couple of decades, with the earlier ones being regular bicycles on which electric motors were fitted, commonly by way of hub motors. But the latest ebikes are purposely designed and built, and some of them even incorporate technology that allows their electronics to be controlled with smart phones. New ebike designs have also been influenced by folding bikes, such as the concept pictured above by Honda that folds up like a suit case. Its power source is designed to be able to charge other electronic devices. It is a future that bodes well for bike commuters. Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Firefly Brigade.
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
Illustration by Jason Moss
The Cycling Convergence: Festival of the Fireflies (CCFF) was conducted last April 26, 2015, from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The event was organized by the Brigade as a way to engage LGUs more actively in bicycle advocacy and to reaffirm the importance of the growing community of cyclists for local businesses. This event also saw a new partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government. While only two LGUs (Quezon City and Marikina) actively took part in
The Big Ride . . . and Having Fun from page 1
economically and environmentally effective—all without taking away the fun factor from its work. In more than fifteen years of commuting on bicycles and trying to get other people to do so, the one valuable lesson the Brigade has learned is that people will persist in doing something as long s it pays them to do so. This is something that is innate in people because it was the way we evolved. In the case of bicycling, this means that people will ride their bikes as long as it puts a smile on their faces (and in their hearts, rivalling romantic love in endorphin production, if we are to believe those who say they are in love with bicycling.) This is why, however much transportation experts and bicycling advocates try to play
the festival itself at the QMC, the Brigade was able to engage with the LGUs of the cities of Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Malabon, Valenzuela, Taguig, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, and Pateros for the first time since these are cities that neither the Tour nor the Critical Mass Ride regularly visit. It also gave the organization a chance to work more closely with Quezon City to hopefully influence them in integrating bicycles in their transportation solutions and to raise their awareness on the needs of cyclists. The Festival did
the environment card (bikes are good for clean air and the environment!) to try to get more people off their cars (and other motorized vehicles) and on bikes, the bottom line when it comes to commuting on a bicycle in Metro Manila traffic is that it has to be a fun experience. Many people inevitably associate bicycling with childhood memories of a newly found freedom to go anywhere at will, no longer constrained by how far their two feet can get them or by the amount of money they can spare for the jeepney or bus. So, for most people who ride, the bottom line seems to be the smile (fun) factor. It seems strange then to hear experts and advocates argue that the best way to attract more bicyclists is by building infrastructure (bikeways, parking racks, segregated bike lanes, special signaling, “bike-friendly” intersections, roundabouts and speed bumps to “calm traffic”) and passing laws (compelling
attract bicyclists from all over the metro area even without the support of the LGU. An extension of the perennial costume contest of the TOF saw a good number of participants wearing costumes for the Festival, many of them even more elaborate and creative than those exhibited at the last TOF. Overall, the Festival succeeded in again bringing the metro's cycling community together and to show the LGUs and the business sector the potential of catering to cyclists needs. (Carol Gaw)
people to behave in a more “bike-friendly” way). These measures are supposedly the sine qua non of the traffic engineering and social reengineering measures that sustainable transportation and mobility experts say will surely increase cycling. They have taken the “fun” out of cycling and replaced it with “road furniture and appliances.” Another way of saying it is they turned “Yeba, ang sarap magbisikleta” into “Sa ikauuland ng bayan, bisikleta ang kailangan” (with apologies to Antonio Villegas and Ariel Ureta). But no one has shown that these big ticket items are more effective at promoting cycling than teaching children and adults how to ride competently and safely, even on roads with motor vehicle traffic, while keeping their smiles on (rather than giving in to their inner road rage). The experts point to the European cycling nations to argue for bike lanes etc., but one can just as well argue that
those countries created those facilities because of an already historically high rate of bicycle use (supposedly as high as 25 percent in that mecca of urban cycling, the Netherlands); that those facilities are the result of, not the cause of, a high cycling rate. In contrast, in the United States, even with its wealth and relative abundance of cycling facilities, travel by bicycle is a measly 1 percent. Some say such an argument is trite and that advocates must use any and all means to get more people on bikes. But that is only true if you have infinite resources. When the resources are constrained (as in reality), then a wise and informed choice must be made on how best to reach the goal, and the goal is more utilitarian or commuting cycling, not recreational cycling. Segregated paths and bikeways are fine for recreational or even sport cycling but are largely unrealistic and irrelevant for bike commuting.
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Inclusive Mobility Framework By Julia Nebrija
Last October 8-9, 2015, I joined the 9th Transportation Ministerial Meetings (TMM) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 21 member economies. On the first day, I participated in the APEC Women in Transportation Forum: Navigating Forward. The participants were expected to provide feedback on a roadmap that would work for inclusion of women in the transport sector. Apparently, the exclusion of women as transport professionals and users costs the APEC region US$42-47 billion per year in potential productivity. Females make up 47 percent of the workforce in the APEC region, but only represent 13 percent in the transport sector. Although I am myself a female commuter and am passionate about issues facing women in transportation, such as safety (55 percent of BPO workers in the Philippines are females and they have to commute between home and work at all hours) and design (transportation systems are not specifically designed for women who have children, or need to bring the elderly to medical facilities, or carry goods from the market). If women were more professionally part of the sector, these needs would be better met.
of origin until your point of destination. When you take the train to work, you have to walk on the sidewalk (if there is one), take a crushing ride in a tricycle or pedicab to the station, walk up the steps to the platform (because usually there is no escalator or elevator, or they're not working), ride a packed jeepney or other shuttle vehicle from the station where you got off, again use the sidewalk (if there is one, otherwise you walk on the roadway and hope that you don't get run down by a passing maniac). Inclusivity also means enabling all sorts of people—young children, a person in a wheelchair, the elderly, the poor—to use the system safely, conveniently, and affordably, and to have a voice in the design and provision of the system. All the APEC economies seem to face the same transport conditions. Globally, countries are trying to find ways to reduce car usage, care for the some 650 million persons living with disabilities, and better connect underserved areas so the marginalized can equally access opportunities and improve their quality of life. What I found to be unique for the developing countries is the predominance of informal transportation systems which need to be considered as we plan for the
future. These informal modes—tricycles and pedicabs in the Philippines, motor taxis and water taxis in Thailand—are meeting a huge public demand and providing livelihood to thousands of low income people. With the Inclusive Mobility Framework, we have the opportunity regionally to gather best practices, learn from one another, and develop guidelines and a roadmap for improving how we plan the movement of people and goods in our countries. This will provide a critical shift in how we think about transportation and what it takes to make it not only sustainable but also inclusive.
The second day, I presented the Inclusive Mobility Framework for approval and adoption by the APEC members. Inclusive mobility means viewing mobility as a quality of life issue for all people. Mobility includes every step in traveling from your point 4
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
HOW TO BE
PART OF THE SOLUTION By J.B. Ligot
Today is October 30, 2015. It is now 11 PM. I am currently along EDSA just after the Guadalupe bridge. It has been almost 2 hours since I took an Uber ride from the airport coming from a business assignment and here I am still a long ways from home at 11PM on a Friday night along EDSA. With nothing much to do, I brought out my laptop to write this article. Looking out the window of the car has got me thinking: what if everyone who has in some ways been affected by this traffic problem exerts some effort to provide some tangible solution that may help alleviate if not solve this problem. Realistically, I know there is no easy fix and this will take some very creative approach to even find a way to resolve this. But maybe if we
can find a way to help out in whatever way we can, we may one day be part of the solution to this problem. Two weeks from now will be this year's much awaited Tour of the Fireflies. The Firefly Brigade has been organizing the Tour since 1999, every year except in 2014. Each year a lot of people look forward to this event. Whether to simply enjoy it as a collective activity with family and friends, or as a statement and proactive step in helping the environment. This is one of the tangible ways we can help. The Firefly Brigade not only organizes this annual ride, it also has a lot of activities within the year geared toward raising awareness of sustainable transportation solutions. To be able to sustain this, we are hoping all like minded individuals will help in some way to support the advocacies of the Firefly Brigade. Here are some ways to support the programs of the Fireflies; 1. Volunteer as an individual or as a group in activities of the Firefly Brigade 2. Donate to certain programs you may be interested in. Whether you donate ten pesos or ten thousand pesos monthly, quarterly, semiannually, or annually as an individual, this will go a long way in helping sustain the Brigade's
programs. Also consider becoming our institutional partner. 3. Suggest how we can better serve the cycling community 4. Become a member by joining the Firefly Flight Training Here are some of the Firefly Brigade's major programs and activities: 1. Organizing and empowering people on bicycles through the monthly Critical Mass Rides (CMR) and the Tour of the Fireflies. 2. Providing education and training for governments, businesses, institutions and groups on sustainable transportation, with focus on bicycling. 3. Lobbying our government in the local and national level government for bicycle programs and infrastructure I arrived home at 12 midnight, which means it took three hours to get from the airport to my house in Project 4, Quezon City. This traffic mess should be fixed! And it should happen soon! Maybe if all of us will just pitch in in whatever way we can, whether it be time or resources, a solution may be in sight sooner than we think; it's all up to us to make it happen. This is not only for us but for more importantly for all the generations to come. We just need to share whatever we can.
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Join Firefly Brigade's
Firefly Flight Training (FFT)! Happening again on January to March 2016! The Firefly Brigade envisions a world where bicycling and sustainable transportation are a way of life. We don't just do it through the Tour of the Fireflies, we also teach and guide firefly larvae how to fly!
Nakaakyat na ba kayo sa ridge sa Benguet? Nakapagkarera na sa bulubundukin ng San Mateo? O kaya'y nakapag-bike sa kabuuan ng La Mesa...with your loved one?
You may just join the Firefly Flight Training for training and education, or if you'd like to join the Firefly Brigade as a member, this will be your door to the organization.
Maki-lakbay with Dennis Trillo at Solenn Heussaff sa pelikulang para sa mga bikers, sa mga in-love, at sa mga bikers na in-love! Anyayahan ang pamilya, kaibigan, at crush dahil mas masarap magbike kapag naglalakbay to love! Tentative screenings on Nov. 27, 2015 (Clean Air Month and Yolanda anniversary) at Bonifacio Global City and on Jan. 29 at the UP Diliman!
Topics: 1. Who? Why? How? What the heck?! is the Firefly Brigade? 2. Sustainable Transportation, the Environment and Fireflies 3. Which Bicycle? Options on Use, Features, Look, Size, Fit, Budget 4. Bicycle Maintenance 101 5. Safe Urban Riding 6. First Aid for Bicyclists 7. Project KKB (Kitang-Kita ang Bisikleta): Providing Night-Time Visibility to Urban Road Bicycle Warriors Training will be conducted in the classroom and on the roads of Metro Manila. For training fees, venue and specific schedules, call us at 441-0976, subscribe to our Facebook account: www.facebook.com/fireflybrigade.org, or visit our website: www.fireflybrigade.org The Firefly Brigade also conducts trainings to groups and organizations upon request. Just call us to inquire!
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The Brutal Driver
Many horsemen are so lacking in the sense of humanity and running down cyclists on the public road. By the efforts of the L.A.W. many of these brutes have been arrested and punished, and this salutary work will be carried on in the future more vigorously than ever.
From the book: Drivers. Drivers never change. (1898) by ScipioA in bicycling Shared by Migi Laperal of UP Bike Share
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
Presented by:
Co-Presented by:
Host Cities in Metro Manila:
In Partnership with: Major Sponsors:
Minor Sponsors: Advocacy Partner:
Media Partners: Donors:
Registration Centers:
On Team Building, Fund Raising and Sustaining Community By Katti Sta. Ana
One of the important things for any organization to not take for granted is team building and sustainability. For 16 years now since 1999, the Firefly Brigade has been organizing the Tour of the Fireflies (ToF)—the biggest and most anticipated, bicycle advocacy event in the Philippines each year. From only about 400 participants in its first year, the Tour has grown to about 14,000 people on bicycles of all types and ages in Metro Manila, according to MMDA estimates in 2012. This figure does not include the number of people on bicycles in simultaneous or synchronized rides by other groups rallying for the same cause in other places in the country. With that number, would you believe that only an average of about 10 members of the Firefly Brigade take months to organize the Tour since it formalized in 2000? If it were not with the help of loyal ride marshals, family and friends, we would have gone nuts! In 16 years, we've only had just a little over 70 members who've come to organize and help, who have gone, stayed or come back to make and keep the fires of bicycle advocacy burning through the ToF, our monthly rides and other Firefly Brigade projects and partnerships. And so, we found it really important to look at how we could reenergize and equip ourselves with
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the necessary information, knowledge and skills, find the best and efficient organizational structure that could keep us going, as well us the measures by which we could financially sustain our dream of a world where bicycling and sustainable transportation are a way of life.
Camp Explore and Mount Purro Nature Reserve First step was team-building. Last July 25-27, we went up for this purpose to Mount Purro Nature Reserve (MPNR) in Calawis, Antipolo. We stayed all together in a large twin cottage with bay windows, two rooms and two lofts. The screened bay windows had cushions and also served as beds at siyempre unahan! Naunahan ako! So I stayed in a room fit for those who need a little more privacy. The different-sized bahay kubo cottages in this beautiful nature camp were made out of mostly bamboo, nipa, and anahaw with just the basic amenities one would need. The family of Mr. Toto and Baby Malvar, and their daughters Kat Rodrigo and Kit Llamas, deeply inspired us with their generosity and stories of how they developed this place with a heart. To them, this is a place that would provide people with an opportunity to commune with
nature and learn more about our environment. Through their efforts and leadership, the surrounding community is provided with opportunities to ably balance survival with stewardship of the Earth. After Mr. Malvar shared stories with us, I was silently amused at watching our officers and members have their pictures taken, not so much with Mr. Toto Malvar (which included myself), but particularly with the photograph of Gen. Miguel Malvar, a hero from the Philippine revolution, which was displayed in the rustic mess hall. Para bagang ang pagka-bayani ni Heneral Malvar ay maisasalin sa mga nagpapakuha ng letrato. Mr. Toto Malvar is a direct grandson of the general. At ang pagka-bayani ay tunay na naisasalin sa pagpapatuloy ng lahi. Mount Purro Nature Reserve boasts of a breath-taking view of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. We felt really rejuvenated by the naturally landscaped forest gardens, fruitbearing trees, cabanas, swimming pool (even if our time was too short to take a dip in the pool), and unpretentious, delicious and nicely presented home-style meals from Mrs. Baby Malvar's family recipes. Camp Explore, an associate team building facilitating group of Mount Purro Nature Reserve headed by Kit Malvar Llamas, helped us review, reaffirm and recommit ourselves to
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
Firefly Brigade's Vision, Mission, and Values. Her team of camp masters prepared a customized experiential learning program for us designed to assist our reorganization efforts and jumpstart our team towards our vision. Through the activities and sessions, our officers and participating members gained a deeper awareness and appreciation of our varied personalities and strengths through a Personality Strength Survey, which is based on Carl G. Jung's theory of psychological types. We learned how our different personalities, which pose as challenges to one another in the team, could actually complement and help us in achieving our common goals. This opened our eyes into becoming more accepting and respectful of one another as we do the many tasks that keep the fire of bicycle advocacy burning. In the afternoon, the challenge stations in an adventure race prepared for us by Camp Explore pumped up our adrenalin and competitive spirit. Too bad it rained so hard in the afternoon that we weren't able to do the high ropes challenge and team belay. We were all really looking forward to that with anticipation! But our camp masters were ready with an alternative activity that could be done under a roof where our mental memory, team spirit, good humor were put to good use. We slept soundly that night after all the day's activities. I could hear someone's snoring bouncing off and vibrating on the pawid of the dividing wall between ours and the next room; The sound to me was funny and wonderful. At the break of dawn, as the birds on the trees chirped, someone who I hadn't noticed had gotten up really early, came in through the door to excitedly share his accomplishment: “Camp Explored!” Visit Mount Purro Nature Reserve and Camp Explore's website: campexplore.ph Mount Purro Nature Reserve is the official outdoors events place of
the Firefly Brigade. Check out www.campexplore.ph. Contact them at (0998)561-2815 sales.mountpurronaturereserve@gm ail.com for inquiries on food and venue, and campexplore@gmail.com for programs.
Venture for Fund Raising Not so long after that, on September 5, the Firefly Brigade embarked on a strategic planning workshop to set our program strategies for the next five years. To also learn about how we could gather resources with which to fund these programs and projects, we sought the expertise of Venture for Fund Raising--the only non-profit organization that serves the fund raising needs of other non-profits in the country and Asia. We learned a lot in the workshop conducted for us on September 12 by its very
experienced Executive Director Ms. Pinky Medina. First of all is that fundraising is friend-raising. That really made sense. Because “it involves identifying people who share the same values as your organization and managing that relationship.” That
is their Tip #1. We also learned that fund raising is both art and science. There are so many ways by which we could raise funds! One could really be creative about it and yet there are mathematical calculations and social science data that guide and inform the fund-raising team to be able to effectively raise the resources needed. Venture for Fund Raising offers basic year-round courses on fundraising as well as customized consulting services on many areas of need of non-profits. You may visit their website at http://www.ventureasia.org/, call them at telephone ( 2) 634 8889 or Email: venture@venture-asia.org
The College of Social Work and Community Development True to its name, the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), has been supporting the Firefly Brigade by generously lending us their classroom as venue for our special meetings and workshops for our institutional development. Even in the early years of the Firefly Brigade in 2000, while the college was still a humble one-floor building at the back of the University of the Philippines Chapel, CSWCD was home to our weekly planning and coordination meetings for the Tour of the Fireflies. Thanks to our member, first-ever treasurer, and now member of our Board of Trustees, Prof. Roselle Leah K. Rivera, her home college CSWCD continues to welcome us to support our work of empowering citizens towards the goal of transforming our communities into healthy, livable and socially-equitable places. As progressive thinkers, it isn't difficult for them to believe that the bicycle and sustainable transportation can be our platform, and that it can be done! See the work of the College at http://cswcd.upd.edu.ph/.
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The Firefly Brigade, more than just the annual Tour of the Fireflies By Brian Sison
Since 1999 the Firefly Brigade has been active in promoting the bicycle as a serious mode of transport. Its main means of doing so has been the annual Tour of the Fireflies. Starting with about 400 cyclist-participants joining the first tour in 1999, the ride is now attracting up to an estimated 14,000 bicyclists (in 2012) riding together through the streets of Metro Manila in an organized parade showcasing the beauty and appropriateness of cycling in this urban landscape. If this were the only measure of the Firefly Brigade's success, then the advocacy can be said to have significantly grown from its humble origins. But like any organization with a noble purpose, the Firefly Brigade has not stopped there. It has extended its work to many other activities, including donating bicycles to young people to enhance their mobility options. The Brigade has also started to acknowledge the importance of political work to advance its ideals. In 2006, the Brigade worked with universities and other civic organizations to encourage young people to vote and to plant the idea of bicycling as part of the political agenda of candidates. An important part of promoting bicycling among commuters is the provision of safe and secure bicycle parking. Having secured funding from Unilab Philippines and the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Brigade designed and built bicycle racks for donation to partners willing to install and maintain them. Bicycle racks have been donated to certain local government units that have placed the racks near their city or municipal halls, government offices (the Department of Education), parks (the CCP complex), and the University of the Philippines. The latest recipient of a bike rack was the Quezon Memorial Circle where many people ride bikes for recreation. It was given last April 2015 during the Brigadeorganized Cycling Convergence Festival of Fireflies.
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The provision of bike racks is only one of the components of the Brigade's program to encourage more bicycling in the metro area. The Brigade continues to work with local governments and businesses to make their offices and establishments more friendly to people who ride bicycles to these places. We also organize a monthly group ride, called the Critical Mass Ride, to get people to ride together in traffic and to show how bicycling can be a better way to commute. We are open to partner with individuals, organizations, government agencies, private businesses, and other entities to design programs that get more people to ride their bicycles, not just for recreation or sport, but as a regular means of personal transportation, something that is good for the health of the person and the urban environment. Join us, and together we will transform a small part of the world.
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
The Firefly Brigade Bike Clinic:
Chance Favors The Prepared Mind By Pio Fortuno Jr.
The great scientist Louis Pasteur once said “Chance favors the prepared mind�. In the concrete jungle that is Metro Manila, every time we go out the door to go somewhere, be it by car, commuting, walking or biking, a bit of a risk is involved no matter what mode of transportation you take. Cycling in the city does have its share of concerns, more so if you are a beginner cyclist, in which case the roads can seem daunting. Metro Manila has little bikefriendly infrastructure such as bike lanes and other amenities, and waiting for the government to construct these is not an option. At the Firefly Brigade, we prepare the minds of people to tackle the metro's streets in their raw, unadulterated state.
the employees of a company that would like to encourage its workforce to bike to work. This year, we have held clinics at The Firefly Brigade's Cycling Convergence Festival of Fireflies, at the R.O.X. Fest at BGC, at SM North EDSA in coordination with Lagalag, and for Thomson Reuters. And we will hold many more
The Firefly Brigade Bike Clinic is a huge part of our advocacy, and while it is mostly geared towards newbies, it can be tailor-made according to the skill level and needs of the target group. While we do conduct clinics that are open to the public, we also hold sessions at the request of private groups, such as for
clinics in the future, catch the announcements at the Firefly Brigade website, www.fireflybrigade.org. A typical bike clinic is divided into 2 parts - an indoor lecture, and a practical bike ride. The lecture part starts off with very basic material what are the parts of the bike, the
kinds of bike, where to buy one, how a bike works, basic maintenance, to name a few. A question and answer portion after the lecture will lend more clarity and dispel any lingering fog of ignorance. After the lecture, a practical ride ensues where we share techniques on how to ride the city roads with other vehicles, road positioning, bike fit, using hand signals, recognizing dangerous situations, how to pedal efficiently, and more. At the end of the bike clinic, the participant will be armed with enough knowledge to tackle Metro Manila's roads. Education is key to safe riding. If we prepare our minds properly for riding in the city, we increase our safety margin a thousandfold, and we will flow along the city's stream of vehicles with fun, ease and efficiency. If you want to know more about the intricacies of cycling in the city, attending a bike clinic is a must. If you are part of a group and would like to have a private bike clinic, please contact us. Stay safe and pedal on!
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Bicycles and Emergency Disaster Evacuation By Judah Singson Aliposa
By now, floods are considered by many living in Metro Manila to be the hazard that affects more people and causes more damage to property than any other. But on a direr note, the Philippines is in the middle of two active subduction zones -- that of the South China Plate which is being forced under Luzon along the Manila Trench -- and that of the Philippine Sea Plate that subducts toward the west along the East Luzon Trench. These zones explain the high seismic activity in Luzon. In a joint study with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) looked at 18 earthquake scenarios. These organizations then selected a worst-case scenario: that of the West Valley Fault, a 100kilometer fault that runs through 6 cities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces which when hit by a 7.2magnitude earthquake will spawn the “Big One” “The Big One”, says Phivolcs director Renato Solidum Jr., will hit residential houses worst as many of these do not follow building standards. When the “Big One” strikes, 170,000 residential houses
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will collapse which will instantly crush to death 34,000 people. Another 114,000 individuals will be injured while 340,000 houses will be partly damaged. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 30 Jul 2015) At least 7 major bridges will be toppled while 10 percent of public buildings will be heavily damaged. About 4,615 kilometers of water distribution pipes will suffer 4,000 points of breakage. Thirty kilometers worth of electric cables will be cut and 95 kilometers of communication cables will be disconnected. Cellular phone service will be congested if not out of use. Of the structures that will be damaged, those of informal settlers will have a higher damage ratio. The MMDA has initiated a massive quake drill last 30 July 2015 to prepare people living in Metro Manila for the “Big One”, and maps from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) now allow the public to see the location of the West Valley Fault and East Valley Fault in Greater Metro Manila. Rappler has compiled a list of 57 subdivisions or residential villages are transected by the West Valley Fault. The affected areas are diverse: from enclaves of the rich like Loyola Grand Villas in Quezon City,
to the depressed Maharlika Village in Taguig (Rappler, 21 May 2015). Despite of its popularity and wide use in many towns, the cities of Metro Manila and in other parts of the Philippines, bicycles and its other pedal-powered cousins have only been used in an ad hoc manner for disaster response. Why is this so? Disaster planning in the Philippines is primarily a top-down planning effort, and response strategies mimic militarized structures to maintain order during the chaos of an emergency situation. The Incident Command System (ICS) has been adapted by most disaster risk reduction and management systems to coordinate a systematic approach
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
to communication and resources during disasters. This is the reason why retired military officers head the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) as well as its various regional offices. ICS employs bureaucratic principles that do not account for detailed knowledge, but are meant to control masses, restore normalcy, and provide extensive aid and supplies. We need not look any further than Typhoon Ondoy and Super Typhoon Yolanda to understand that massive disasters can incapacitate bureaucratic organization and response. “Local knowledge” is therefore extremely important in disaster resilience planning. Formal response must begin at the local level first. Surviving police, fire, military and emergency medical personnel will attend to injuries, rescues, fires, and general dangerous conditions. Emergency management and local government officials are expected to lead in the response. But if local governments, such as those of Tacloban and the other Yolanda-hit towns of Samar and Leyte, are overwhelmed and response begins to exceed their financial and resource capabilities, protocol exists so that such government officials must alert the national government, and the President of the Philippines is notified and asked to declare a state of national emergency by the request of local officials in collaboration with NDRRMC. As we bicyclists are embedded well in our communities, what are we to do? Paloma (2011) in Chapter 6, page 127 of her book entitled Your Emergency Survival Handbook urges and admonishes at the same time when she says “plan ahead, those who fail to plan, plan to fail”. Start making plans and carry them out as soon as possible. Check out all safe places within your vicinity. Make your home as disaster (earthquake, floods, fire, etc.)-prepared as possible. And have several alternative safe-places in case your home becomes unlivable. To prepare and act during an emergency disaster evacuation, you must: 1. Listen to local radio and television reports when disaster
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threatens. Take steps now to protect your home and belongings before leaving; and always keep your bicycle/s in tiptop condition. If local officials ask you to leave, do so immediately! Even before any disaster strikes (like today), take pictures, write or digitally record all your household possessions – including your bike. Record model and serial numbers. Photos and important digital files must be saved on the Internet or you can use your email to store these records – Yahoo! or Gmail is a good storage medium and its free! Do this for all items in your home then store a copy of the record somewhere away from home such as in a safe deposit box on the Internet. If it is possible that your home could be significantly damaged by impending disaster, consider storing your important household furnishings and your bicycle/s elsewhere. When disaster strikes, protect your home – bring your things indoors. Your bicycle, lawn furniture, trash cans, garden implements, plants, clotheslines, and any other objects that may fly about and damage property should be brought indoors. Depending on where and how you live, and what situation you are in, your “Bug Out Vehicle” (BOV) may be a kariton, a bicycle, a motorcycle, a car or a 4x4 monster truck! However,
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always consider the fact that in a bug out situation, the usual routes will be clogged with fellow evacuees. Recall images of typhoon Ondoy (remember the Provident Village scene in Marikina?) and that of Yolanda – of roads and highways filled with so many cars and debris – so I'd prefer my trusty mountain bike to be my BOV! Look for potential hazards such as coconuts, unripened fruit and other objects on trees around your property that could blow or break off in high winds. Cut them loose and store them indoors. Leave trees and shrubs alone but cut away dead or diseased branches or limbs from trees and shrubs. Turn off electricity and water pumps at the main fuse or breaker, and at the main valve. If high winds are expected, cover all outside windows with shutters or plywood. Move appliances, TV, computers, stereo and electronic equipment, and kitchen appliances to higher levels and away from windows – wrap them in sheets or tablecloths. Always PACE your routes as Primary, Alternate, Contingency and Emergency. The same goes for all your destinations. Buy maps for the area where you live and where you will travel in. Map out routes for each of your family members who knows how to bike or drive – in case any is cut off or away from you who may need to walk, ride or bike to your destination. Always consider
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several places to go. 11. Decide on your meeting place: first, one just outside your home; second, a place within your neighborhood, followed by a designated stop outside your neighborhood; third, another in a well-known place just inside your city; and fourth, a specified spot outside your city – clearly and accurately in this order. 12. Make sure that you leave notes or instructions behind for the rest to follow – and hopefully, you will pick up or they can pick you up along the way. Make sure that everyone knows where to proceed to your safe place (it can be a relative's house, another home you own or a farm house away from the city). 13. Study all possible routes to your destination – either by foot, by bicycle, by car, etc. Remember and anticipate that bridges may collapse during earthquakes, floods, etc. or become impassable.
14. Some crucial factors to always keep in mind: a. The fewer people around you, the safer you and your family will be. b. The more supplies and routes you plan the more choices you have on short notice. c. The more first aid, basic and secondary treatments you know, the better. d. The more you practice and ride your bike route, the easier it is to make decisions in times of distress. e. Know how far you are willing to go. (Will you carry a weapon for self defense? for hunting, for food?) f. Know the capabilities of those who will bike with you or are under your care (for selfdefense, food gathering, hunting, map reading skills, etc.) g. Do not forget your pets. Bring extra water for them. If they can also be used for carrying
items, then train them so. 15. Your aim is to get to a safe place. You may have to walk every step or pedal it all the way. You may encounter other people who will want what you have especially your bicycle. Your preparation may even make those who did not prepare angry. So, whenever possible: stay away from other people! Keep this in mind as you plan your routes. Firefly Brigade-trained bicyclists will always bring with them essential bicycle tools in a bike pack together with at least 2 extra inner tubes, a hand pump, a tire patch kit, an extra chain link, enough water, and will always wear a bike helmet! I did not have enough writing space for Emergency Survival requirements such as what your Evacuation Pack should include, etc. so I encourage you to read Paloma's Your Emergency Survival Handbook (2011) or download a free app called Survival Guide.
Anatomy of a racing bike saddle brake cable
brake cable
stem
drop handlebar
seatpost top tube
seatpost binder bolt cogset
seatstay rear brake
headset
brake hood brake/shift levers
shift levers
head tube
seat tube down tube
rear dropout
front brake valve
front derailleur fork
slick road tires
chainrings
rear derailleur chainstay
quick release crankarm
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rim
pedal hub
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015
Advance the bike advocacy, send a petition to your local government! Last April, during the Cycling Covergence event of the Firefly Brigade at the Quezon Memorial Circle, participants were asked to sign petitions addressed to their respective local chief executives and other local officials, depending on where they were from, asking that their local governments promote bicycling in their respective communities. It is a sign of the times that the people no longer demand change, they instead politely request their local governments to initiate changes. The changes being petitioned are rather innocuous—policies, ordinances, and physical facilities that aim to encourage more people to ride their bicycles, particularly for commuting. No longer the radical slogans of a previous era—Makibaka! Wag matakot!—but rather Maki-bayk ka!—deferential calls to slow motor vehicle traffic, declare car-free days, provide secure bike parking—requests that actually conform to national programs to clean the air and to adapt to new realities shaped by climate change. So, now is everyone's chance to be activists again, albeit in a more civilized guise. We even provide the basic petition for you. All you have to do is to fill in the blanks (information on your local city or municipality), get friends; lovers; family members; fellow cyclists; pro-bicycling motorists and pedestrians; religious believers and non-believers; jeepney, bus, and taxi drivers; people you meet while commuting or watching a movie or when you eat out; politicians running for office who would now love to do you any favor in exchange for your vote, to sign your lovingly crafted petition. After you're satisfied that you have absolutely everyone you can possibly persuade sign, you can then send the petition to your local officials, telling them how happy their constituents would be if they actually did something, anything, that was on the list of requests (not demands). Also, don't forget to send a copy to the Firefly Brigade, which will compile all petitions and follow them up with all the local governments that were sent petitions. Bicycle advocacy cannot be the responsibility of the Brigade alone, it is a collective responsibility of everyone who would like change in the way we provide mobility to our fellowmen and women.
The Citizen's Sphere of Influence: How to make Your Own Surroundings Bicycle Friendly (Pro-forma letters/petitions)
Dear Mayor/Vice Mayor/City Councilors: Good Day. We, the undersigned, would like to do our share to minimize air pollution and ease traffic congestion in our city. We believe that the greater use of bicycles as a form of transportation promotes clean air and cuts pollution from motorized vehicles, encourages local citizens to live healthier and more productive lives, and reduces the social costs related to traffic congestion and vehicular accidents. More specifically, we ask that the city to: ! build and maintain facilities that encourage more people to bicycle, such as marked bicycle lanes on streets frequented by cyclists ! make streets safer and more convenient for cyclists by planting shade trees and by instituting traffic-calming measures, such as speed limits and speed bumps ! require offices and business establishments to provide secure parking facilities for bicycles ! require offices to provide facilities for bicyclists to shower and change ! support programs that educate cyclists on riding safely in traffic ! designate car-free streets and other areas to encourage cycling and walking among residents ! create a city bicycle program specifying, instituting, and monitoring the measures the city government will implement to promote bicycling ! work closely with local bicycle groups and advocates to ensure the participation of cyclists in decision making regarding bicycling-related matters Should your office have a meeting to discuss any of the above proposals, we would gladly like to offer our assistance by giving practical advise based on our experience as bike commuters. Looking forward to your positive response. Very truly yours, Signed: Name
Address
Contact Number
Signature
Note: By law it only takes 50 voters of a barangay, 100 voters of a municipality, and 1000 voters of a city or province to directly propose passage of an ordinance (without need for any councilor to sponsor). They have 30 days to approve and if not, we can call for a referendum.
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16th Tour of the Fireflies 2015
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Start: Tiendesitas Pasig Out to Julia Vargas towards EDSA (Northbound), turn right on Quezon Blvd., straight to Elliptical Road to st Quezon City Hall (1 Stop), continue to Commonwealth Ave., turn right on Tandang Sora Ave., continue to Katipunan Ave., turn left on Aurora Blvd. continue to Bonifacio Ave., turn right on McDonald's Ave. to Marikina nd City Hall (2 Stop), out to G. Fernando Ave., turn right on Marcos Highway, continue to FVR Ave., turn left on E. Rodriguez Ave. (C5 Libis) straight to Tiendesitas (Finish).
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The Firefly Brigade has moved! Our office is now located at Hive 120째, 120-A, K-8th St, East Kamias, Quezon City. Tel 441 0976. Firefly Brigade Tel.: +63 915 813 3473 Hive is a co-working space that offers a fully-functional place to work, meet, or study, with flexible hours at an affordable price. Free high-speed wi-fi, tea and coffee! Check it out at www.facebook.com/hive120 16
16th Tour of the Fireflies Edition
Nov 2015