If parking fee was not enough a mantra to trim down the traffic in Thimphu, then here comes.
Very soon the residents of Thimphu city will see some 400 new bicycles roaming the vicinity. This time around, it will not be tourists or the expatriates; it will be our very own traffic policeman, civil servants and corporate employees.
They will be riding around town on their bikes parking their much eco-disturbing cars at home.
The Prime minister, speaking to Business Bhutan earlier said that, with the gift he received from Japan, the government is hoping to support residents in Thimphu who are prepared to keep their polluting expensive cars, for distant travels and use bicycles or walk to and from work and make Thimphu a bicycle friendly city.
He said that this is particularly done to reduce traffic congestion in the city and to persuade people to either walk or use bicycles.
“Because the distance between work and home is no very long, in fact most of us live within walking distance in Thimphu,” he said
Meanwhile, before the sporty looking men go to work, parking lot around might have to adjust some of their spaces- The concerned agencies have been instructed to set up bicycle stands in various places around town.
“I have already instructed to set up bicycles stands in various places around town so that people can park their bicycles and secure them safely,” said the Lyonchen.
Meanwhile, a corporate employee, Jigme, who would love to ride a bicycle around, keeping his Getz car home, enquired “will it be safe.”
The information minister, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai, said that the road construction corporation which is due to come up should do something.
He said that the ministry will be encouraging the use of bicycles in the country.
Once the bikes arrive, the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) will be monitoring and distributing it. The rugged mountains and steep roads of the country may not allow easy cycle rides it but it may particularly be popular in the southern towns.
Though many may take up cycling out of eco-friendly convictions, the topography, the curious disharmony between cycling and wearing a gho or kira, may not allow a grand popularity.
The RSTA director, Tashi Norbu, said that it is a very positive step that the government is taking especially in terms of cutting down on emission.
However, most of the officials Business Bhutan talked to, said that they wouldn’t mind riding around on a bicycle.
I won’t mind it at all, provided that the gears are proper,” said the information secretary, Dasho Kinley Dorji.
“I think it’s time I buy a new bicycle,” said Tenzin, a monk.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Weew, that encompasses almost everything, Thank Tshering M. Pardon me if I missed it, but our roads in town should have provisions for bicycle so riders need not risk being hit by motor vehicles.
Thimpu as a bicycle City: Strategies, investments and enthusiasm.
When we have chosen GNH to be the mode of our development promoting Thimpu and other Bhutanese towns as bicycle towns should not a difficult task.
As we sit down to discuss the possibility, advantages and challenges of making bicycle the way of life in the pursuit of good health, cleaner environment and transportation simplified to all Bhutanese we need to discuss on the following points:
Governmental support, Statregies, Investments and enthusiasm.
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
We do not have to worry about the governmental support about allowing bicycles because the concept of popularizing bicycle has come from the government. Thanks for the noble idea.
The three other factors need elaboration and as team EcomBhutan is more concerned with the practicality of implementing a program they may be summarized as follows.
STRATEGIES
Strategy in the present context refers to the methodology or the technique of implementation of the bicycle program and it has a lot to do with enthusiasm which can in turn be boosted by the investment incentive.
Let’s come to the point. As we have started the implementation of GNH in the schools we need to include bicycle as one of the emerging technologies right from the primary school level. Those of us who have spent time with school students know that the students are interested in mechanical and electrical works when they are in junior high. This is the right time to capture their potential and involve them in bicycle training and repairs. We have to make them feel that it is fun to ride a bicycle and to do all the repair work. It should not be taken as a work by force but hobby leading to clean technology studies.
So, how do we go about it?
• Promote GNH bicycle under the special GNH bicycle project co-ordinated by Bhutan GNH bicycle project.
• Begin the GNH Bicycle project in schools with some NGOs or some bicycle companies as the promoters through the initial donations. Welcome parents and other individuals.
• Hold a workshop for the games and physical education teachers from the schools of the proposed bicycle towns. Train all the workshop attendees well in the use of the bicycle and riding safety.
• Next start BICYCLE CLUBS in the schools with the guidance from the teachers who have already attended the bicycle workshops. Encourage the establishment of the bicycle clubs by gathering few safe and standard bicycles and all other equipment, helmet and appropriate dresses.
• Introduce bicycle maintenance technology in the VTIs.
• Post VTI graduates who are well trained in bicycle maintenance and repair. One graduate per school with 500 students or less.
• Include all types of bicycles – simple, geared, tricycles for the disabled, the latest electric bicycle for those who need to travel a lot of uphill road and the amazing folding bikes.
• Train all the members of the school bicycle clubs and hold inter-house bicycle programs on important occasions like June 5, the world environment day.
• Keep track of the emerging bicycle clubs by including all the available statistics. Create a site for registering the bicycle users in the country for up-to-date growth trend, research and standard procurement of bicycles in the country. The site can be freely maintained by http://www.ecombhutan.com
• Once the school have a gathered a good number of students willing to adopt bicycle as a means of transportation look for entrepreneurs who could promote bicycle sales strategically on installment basis including a small amount in the monthly or yearly fee that the students pay to the school. This does not become a burden of one time purchase payments for the parents.
• We feel that the promoters should be the educated unemployed graduates. They need to be supported through loans and some expertise in the beginning like the plans that the government has for one stop shop for farming technologies.
• Invite international organizations, bicycle producers and individuals who would like to be a part of the promotion team of the GNH bicycle program at a larger scale.
• Hold a few GNH bicycle winter camps in the warmer towns of the country by bringing students and teachers from the different schools with bicycle clubs.
• For making bicycle as a scoring GNH subject in the schools include the scores in SUPW. Some of the GNH subjects that are practical and are included in SUPW are agriculture, Bhutanese music, Paintings, weaving and other handicraft. The bicycle scores may be calculated from the participation in bicycle as mode of transportation to and from school, inter-house bicycle tours, maintenance and repair works and social service provided through volunteerism using bicycles.
• Promote national bicycle events like GNH under 15 tours, GNH high school bicycle tours with more creative and entertaining modifications.
• Set up awards in schools for those who dedicate in the GNH bicycle projects.
The above points may not be self sufficient in themselves but can always be enriched by GNH bicycle project.
• If we take up the above points step by step we should be successful in generating enthusiasm amongst our young people in the GNH bicycle project. The strategies can also be extended to the civil servants and the employees from private sectors.
INVESTMENTS
Bhutan’s development is always cautiously undertaken and that’s the reason we seldom fail. As to making certain projects more customer service oriented and prompt we can always have private companies to take part. They can have the help from the government in terms of infrastructure and initial investment. RSPN can also be actively involved as a facilitator to connect the emerging bicycle project with Environmental organizations and our donor friends world-wide.
Unemployed graduates with basic knowledge of bicycle, computers and communication skills may form the investors’ group for the long term bicycle project in Bhutan. A special fund could be created in the beginning to a kick pedal it. A free GNH bicycle promotion project proposal can be availed by the enthusiasts by asking for it. Please ask us for a detailed project proposal by writing to us at ecombhutan@yahoo.com. The individual enthusiasts can modify the project proposal as per the size of the program they want to undertake in terms of national coverage.
EcomBhutan Team shall also try the best to connect the enthusiastic investors globally in sweeping Bhutan with a successful GNH bicycle project. It can be one of the fastest GNH projects to materialize if installment payments are introduced for the purchase of bicycles including those that can be folded and easily transported. It is a business that will continuously grow and further research and indigenous designs will also promote the production of cycle trailers for short distance logistics in the country. It is a sustainable business with R & D prospects.
Further the GNH bicycle project will have to go for business extension by creating workshops and assembly stores which will create more employment. However, a good record keeping is important to make strategic decisions in the future.
To have a check and balance in the growth enthusiasm more than one town must be included in the pilot projects. Our overall goal is to have more bicycle users in the country everyday and with the rural-urban migration in rise the practice of using in the smaller towns will definitely penetrate into Thimpu. A certain level of social networking is needed and our schools, newspapers and BBS can always make it a possible.
Having said this I feel we are now ready for that big dream- see Bhutan on bicycles for an enlightening site and lungs full of fresh air. Go ask your teacher to start the GNH bicycle club today and if you are a school teacher start one for your students. If you are apparent inspire your child to go for it.
Tashi Delek
Tshering M.
http://www.ecombhutan.com
ecombhutan@yahoo.com
Commentaries and discussions are very welcome.
Note: All enthusiastic and potential investors on managing the bicycle project may ask for free customizable project proposals by writing at ecombhutan@yahoo.com