Advocacy & Safety - Disaster Relief and the Bicycle

Wouldn't it be nice to have a National Bicycle Organization that could spring into action in emergencies like Hurricane Katrina? Ask yourself how many different needs you've witnessed where the bicycle could have been the perfect solution. We need the help of cyclists from all over the country to assist in anyway you can. Someone with friends in high places could make the dream of a disaster bicycle network come to life.

Thanks,
Airwick

Hurricane Katrina (http://www.route66.crazyguyonabike.com )

how about a ride for charity? Ya know like those neighborhood 5k and 10k walks/runs we all used to go to. I'd be up for a ride to raise money.

I think a charity ride would be the only way to directly involve the bicycle.

I mean... you don't plan on bringing supplies in BoB trailer now, do ya?
:)

Maybe make a local MUP require a donation fee for a an upcoming weekend.

Edit:
Clear with the city (call the newspapers with the idea)
Then, if it's approved,
Get some volunteers stationed at all entrances to the MUP to collect $5/adult (kids under 16 free).
After they fork over the cash, they get a bright yellow "Katrina Relief" button they can wear proudly all that weekend to use the path.

I think a charity ride would be the only way to directly involve the bicycle.

I mean... you don't plan on bringing supplies in BoB trailer now, do ya?
:)


I agree with the idea of the charity ride, great idea, but you are discounting the tremendous value of the bicycle for diaster relief and that's precisely my point. A Bicycle Relief Organization with a thousand bicycles outfitted with xtracycles could have gone a long way to helping in New Orleans. Now, it's too late for some of the people victims but not for the pets. Study the xtracycle at their site: www.xtracycle.com and take a look at our website if you need more convincing. www.route66.crazyguyonabike.com
My last point is as cyclists we are continually fighting a battle to get legislation passed that makes roads safer for us and this would and could be a fantastic opportunity to win support from the general public that hasn't owned a bicycle since their huffy's as a kid.

Airwick

Ask yourself how many different needs you've witnessed where the bicycle could have been the perfect solution

MMMMM...bicycles taste good and keep the sun out of my eyes.....who knew it also purified water? Thanks bike!!

Ten thousand bikes set up as Extracycles would not even begin to have an impact on what's needed. With humans needing help, the efforts will and should be concentrated there.

MMMMM...bicycles taste good and keep the sun out of my eyes.....who knew it also purified water? Thanks bike!!


It's a waste of time to respond to such a comment. Any vehicle that doesn't require artificial power can be a life savior in times of crisis. What exactly is it about the idea of 250 lbs of supplies being shuttled back and forth (at a time when there are few alternatives) many times a day do you find so humorous?
You may see your bike as nothing special but I know better. My bike may not filter water but it darn well can carry a filteration unit, carry many gallons of drinking water, and deliver enough food to benefit many people.

Thanks bike!
Airwick

Ten thousand bikes set up as Extracycles would not even begin to have an impact on what's needed. With humans needing help, the efforts will and should be concentrated there.


The idea for a Bicycle Assistance League was never intended to replace current rescue assistance. I truly thought that was fairly obvious. Submit your premise that 10,000 dedicated cyclists (I had merely suggested 1,000 could accomplish a lot) with xtracycles couldn't accomplish enough to warrant the effort and let's see the response you receive. I respect your opinion but please take a look at some of the innovative ways people use their bicycles.

Airwick

The idea for a Bicycle Assistance League was never intended to replace current rescue assistance. I truly thought that was fairly obvious. Submit your premise that 10,000 dedicated cyclists (I had merely suggested 1,000 could accomplish a lot) with xtracycles couldn't accomplish enough to warrant the effort and let's see the response you receive. I respect your opinion but please take a look at some of the innovative ways people use their bicycles.

Airwick

I already put it out there. Any responses will come.

ummmm dense... yeah! OK! What is the problem... refugees are getting sent here and there! do they have transportation? NOOO. I am getting a little dissapointed with everyone ever because i can't find anyone fixing up used bikes for transportation for these people. does ANYONE know if something is happening like this... anywhere? i really would like to help out. contact me... beatsalad@gmail.com
thanks.
taylor sizemore.
PS somehow i think doing this would do more for bikes and do more for the refugees than a benifit ride... what are you thinking. bikes are MADE for transportation! people NEED transportation!
please start coming up with good ideas... not charity rides!

Someone is taking seriously the idea of using bicycles during emergency and disaster scenarios.
http://www.med.wright.edu/em/ndls/

>Disaster Preparedness Training
The Homeland Emergency Learning and Preparedness (HELP) Center in the Department of Emergency Medicine offers disaster preparedness training to emergency responders, including law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hazardous materials technicians, bomb squads, public health services, emergency medical service personnel, or other emergency management personnel. The following courses are coming up in 2005:

WMD Radiological/Nuclear Awareness Training,
Basic Disaster Life Support™,
IPMBA EMS Cyclist Course,
Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS),
Mass Fatalities Incident Response Planning,

FEMA also recognise their usefulness:
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/partnr09.shtm

not to seriously address disaster relief on bikes, but;

the swiss have mountain troops that use bikes as their primary transportation,
a bicycle will work long after the gas pumps have been shut off,
bikes were used to great success along the Ho Chi Mihn trail as cargo carriers.

ummmm dense... yeah! OK! What is the problem... refugees are getting sent here and there! do they have transportation? NOOO. I am getting a little dissapointed with everyone ever because i can't find anyone fixing up used bikes for transportation for these people. does ANYONE know if something is happening like this... anywhere? i really would like to help out. contact me... beatsalad@gmail.com
thanks.
taylor sizemore.
PS somehow i think doing this would do more for bikes and do more for the refugees than a benifit ride... what are you thinking. bikes are MADE for transportation! people NEED transportation!
please start coming up with good ideas... not charity rides!

Bicycles Sports Shop of Austin had a bicycle drive last week and wanted to get 500 bikes to fix up and give to Katrina victims. They stopped the drive after they received 1000 bikes! I wouldn't be surprised if similar drives weren't going on in the cities where the evacuees were sent.

Used bikes donated to disaster victims could be a great help to allow them transportation in thier new homes.

Used bikes donated to disaster victims could be a great help to allow them transportation in thier new homes.

Finally a real use for bikes. For providing support in the disaster area the idea is a joke, at least for this disaster. The biggest problem is contaminated water. Just about anything a bike can make it through a deuce and a halk can blow through with no problem. Also water is a BIG problem on the other side and it is rather hot and humid near N.O. Biking works best when the rider can drink.

Now an earthquake MIGHT work out differently. If almost all bridges were down or damaged enough to prevent 'normal' traffic going both over and under bikes might work well to get supplies the last few miles. But again one deuce and a half can outperform dozens of bikes if it can get through at all.

Ten thousand bikes set up as Extracycles would not even begin to have an impact on what's needed. With humans needing help, the efforts will and should be concentrated there.

Question, what war was won partly by the use of supply bicycles?

Bicycles Sports Shop of Austin had a bicycle drive last week and wanted to get 500 bikes to fix up and give to Katrina victims. They stopped the drive after they received 1000 bikes! I wouldn't be surprised if similar drives weren't going on in the cities where the evacuees were sent.

From: http://www.bikehouston.org/
We have actually cancelled the Hurricane Relief Ride. Mark at Cyclone Cycles and other bike shops in the area, received a total 200 bicycles from wholesalers. There are arrangements already made for the delivery of these bicycles. There will be some assembly required but I think we have that covered.
I wanted to thank you anyway for your help in contacting a volunteer force. We will keep everyone posted if other developments occu

Question, what war was won partly by the use of supply bicycles?

http://www.dienbienphu.org/english/
The bicycle was used to supply the troops that ended the French occupation of Indochina, 7 May 1954. 157 Days of Siege, 57 Days of Hell.

Someone is taking seriously the idea of using bicycles during emergency and disaster scenarios.
http://www.med.wright.edu/em/ndls/

>Disaster Preparedness Training
The Homeland Emergency Learning and Preparedness (HELP) Center in the Department of Emergency Medicine offers disaster preparedness training to emergency responders, including law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hazardous materials technicians, bomb squads, public health services, emergency medical service personnel, or other emergency management personnel. The following courses are coming up in 2005:

WMD Radiological/Nuclear Awareness Training,
Basic Disaster Life Support™,
IPMBA EMS Cyclist Course,
Core Disaster Life Support (CDLS),
Mass Fatalities Incident Response Planning,

FEMA also recognise their usefulness:
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/partnr09.shtm

This college is in Dayton, OH and Dayton has quite a few bike builders and a pretty good bike community and support. However, my bro-in-law goes to school at Wright State Medical College and is not required to take any classes or anything of the sort as far as bikes are included. All of that is an elective. To bad too, I thnk it is an awesome idea.
Stacey

Used bikes donated to disaster victims could be a great help to allow them transportation in thier new homes.

I doubt half the victims are capable of even riding a bicycle. The other half are probably motorists are life time public transportation users who would never think of riding a bicycle in city streets.

http://www.dienbienphu.org/english/
The bicycle was used to supply the troops that ended the French occupation of Indochina, 7 May 1954. 157 Days of Siege, 57 Days of Hell.

I remember seeing this horror on television as countless French soldiers gave up their lives in the bottom of camp for NOTHING!! Unbelivable.

It would not surprise me if the insurgents in Iraq are using the bicycle to transport weapons and amunition across the country.

I doubt half the victims are capable of even riding a bicycle. The other half are probably motorists are life time public transportation users who would never think of riding a bicycle in city streets.

Give them a chance, ferchristsakes, get off your high horse. I am more concerned about what the Donation Nazis, the American Red Cross, are blocking. I would have to ask, is the ARC allowing donated bicycles?

I remember seeing this horror on television as countless French soldiers gave up their lives in the bottom of camp for NOTHING!! Unbelivable.

It would not surprise me if the insurgents in Iraq are using the bicycle to transport weapons and amunition across the country.

The bicycle was used effectively by the insurgents of another recent war. Tubes were filled with high e, parked in shopping areas and marketplaces, and detonated. Wrecked sheer terror.

From: http://www.biketexas.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=403&Itemid=556

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast this week, countless people lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their means of transportation. Thousands of people from neighboring Louisiana have taken refuge in cities and towns across Texas. Texas Bicycle Coalition is working with the Texas bicycle community to coordinate a thoughtful and concerted response.

From the League of American Bicyclists:

League Extends Sympathy, Support to Hurricane Victims (9.1.05)
The League of American Bicyclists is reaching out to cycling clubs and members in the Southern U.S. recently hit by a deadly hurricane. Until they let us know the best way for us to help them, we encourage everyone to give to the American Red Cross by clicking here or calling 800-435-7669.

My bike may not filter water but it darn well can carry a filteration unit, carry many gallons of drinking water, and deliver enough food to benefit many people.

Well so can a semi....but they can hold a few more filtrations units, a little more water.....in a few less trips.....


BTW.....what is "artificial" power?

remember, during Katrina's aftermath, one of the excuses raised by the luit general in charge for the "relief" supplies NOT getting to New Orleans, was lack of fuel...

I think you have a good point here. Bicycles could have brought alot of help to New Orleans -- riding in and out from supply points carrying food and water. And bikes are almost as fast as cars. It takes me 10 minutes to drive to work, but only 15 by bike. How about bikes pulling trailers to assist in the recovery effort? I'll bet Trek would be interested in something like this.

I think it's terrific that people are brainstorming creative ways to help in disaster situations. Bikes, extracycles whatever. Keep those ideas coming.

It appears to me that the very large organizations, Red Cross, FEMA, etc have a difficult time mobilizing in the hours immediately after a crisis. Not surprising, it takes a while to get an elephant dancing. Once they got in gear, they did help hundreds of thousands. This disaster involved staggering numbers....for that we need a big infrastructure which only those big organizations can supply.

Individuals however, were able to do a great deal of good early on. They took the initiative and were not paralyzed by fears of liability, expense, political repercussion, chain of command. For example, neighbors who helped the elderly evacuate. Individuals that distributed water. Or for example, the gentleman from California that flew to Nashville, bought an old yellow bus for $2000, stocked it with water, food, diapers, drove to N.O., and started to distribute and then evacuated people. I know of one lady in my town who rented a van and drove down and pulled out 8 relatives and brought them here...all on her own limited budget. She then came to our red cross shelter, and the red cross is helping her and her evacuee's.

Yes, the Red Cross and FEMA need to be in charge of the big picture and the large scale. But those big organizations cant be everywhere all at once.

Individuals are important. Creative thinking is important. "Just do it."

One question....
It appeared there was abundant debris....do they make puncture-proof tires?

And bikes are almost as fast as cars.

LOL.......try the freeway.....we'll see how you keep up......

Listen, I like the idea of using bikes for more than just recreational riding....but delivering supplies ain't it...