Bike the day with you

Bike parking lot, in front of Amsterdam Central Station, 2013

Back to my country, i read and hear many debates about new program of launching cheap cars. This program is believed could help the less fortunate to also enjoy the luxury and comfort of having a car in their family. Is the problem that simple? And is that the only way to help them to cross the distance?

Many memories popped up in my mind. Few years back there was program for supplying many offices, schools with new computers. The underlying idea was noble one, to increase computer literacy among pupils and officials. Unfortunately, this program was not supported with a good knowledge dissemination about the usage of this computer. The need was failed to be formed and so the computers ended up at the warehouse some without ever being used. What a pity!

At that time, computer was a real brand new product. Some people purely had no idea what it was and had no interest at all. But cars? We knew it long time ago and many of us indeed dream to have one to spoil their beloved family and friends. I am not sure how to tell you about my feeling that it might be a sort of short cut, an easiest way to solve our personal transportation problem. And from that the actual problem might arise.

Do we really know how to use that sophisticated amenity into our daily life? I am doubting that. Most of the cases, we only consider our own luxury but sorry to say that life is not a mere about luxury. We tend to abuse, not only drugs and alcohol, the technology. I mean, when we want to adopt a new technology we are supposed to learn about the culture behind it as well in order to optimize the usage.

To make our discussion more concrete, let’s switch it into health issue. As a public health graduated, one of my concern is about the decreasing of physical activity. Our people really try their best to get new car. In their mind, they thought for being safe from the rain and the very hot sun exposure. They will easily run their car wherever they go, regardless to the distance and whether they have companion or not. I mean if you just go by yourself and the distance is just certain kilometers, it still can be reached by a bicycle, isn’t it? But they they will not bother about it. That simplicity mind will also lead to other public health issues such as pollution, traffic accidents, and indirectly limiting our quality of life via stress and unproductive life due to traffic jam.

It is trully, not a mere of providing cheap cars for all but also how we can provide them the knowledge as well so as human, we can learn to use that new technology wisely. We can also relate it with environment, “How many technology-waste we want to produce?”. There already so many waste from many other stuffs like cables, mobile phones, motor cycles, other gadgets. We have no clue how to recycle it (or maybe just my limited knowledge). We are just so tempted to the new gadgets and hi-tech stuffs for the sake of the prestige.

Being mobile is nice. Having a car, i do really want it. But can we make prioritation? Just not long time ago, we were so busy talking about public transportation. And so what had happened to this idea? We need wider and better road before we can ride comfortably. We need to educate people also about how to use the technology properly, some regulations indeed need to be reviewed. If we ignore all these preconditions, i am worried that the program will only contribute to the more problematic transportation and health issue. Having cheap cars ready in the market rightaway will lead more and more people not bother to use public transportation. The traffic jams  are appearing everywhere and having a car will be pointless.

Amsterdam,2013

Being in the Netherlands, i did enjoy how people bike to their schools, offices and other places. During the weekend i saw many couples rode bicycle. Each of them one bike along with their children. For me, that’s more than enough. I was sure some of them have car and still they bike. They knew exactly where and when to use bicycle or car and the public facilities support this kind of lifestyle. Many (maybe most) of them will park their bicycle next to the train station while some of them even brought their bicycle on the train. What a wise attitude. The bike becomes part of the Dutch people. For me personally, i would love to be part of that culture also.

I do not mind to cycle with you everyday

I will enjoy every movement of our pedals

We will not rush our day, just relax and enjoy seeing people around

We will be friend with the sunlight and pouring rain or even snow

Of course we can ride a car once in a while

But for me a place that lead its people to use the technology properly indeed deserves to be a place for a living