A hectic and exciting year have kick started the bicycle promotion (Sykkelløftet). The bicycle promotion is a project in cooperation between Stavanger Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the county of Rogaland, by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Stavanger City Council and Sandnes City Council to get more people cycling to work.
The bicycle promotion is a solution to the local traffic problem and the traffic problem is not something the region can build itself out of. By trying to persuade more people to start using their bicycles instead of cars we will try to increase the number of trips made by bicycle. This will decrease the number of cars on the roads and make it easier for everyone to travel in the region. Traffic is a social system and it is only working when everyone is cooperating. Today there are way to many examples of conflicting interests between cars and bicycles.
The bicycle promotion is the beginning of a large promotion for cycling that makes up the transportation plan, Jæren plan 1 and 2. There will be invested 1,5 billion NOK into a bicycle transportation network by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, the county and the local councils. The promotion comes as a result of the acknowledgement that bicycle is something relatively flexible and easy accessible to the majority of people. In Europe there are many cities, in many different sizes, that proves bicycles to be efficient, profitable and good for the environment. The ambitions in Jæren plan 1 and 2 are not as useful if the businesses and the public sector do not put in place measures that changes the employees way of travel as soon as possible, by using bicycles instead of cars. In our region 60% of all trips by car is 1km or less. Why we choose cars on those distances are more about old habits than a genuine need and the need to save time.
2012 will be the first year of the bicycle promotion is in operation. In the new year there are hopes to put in place the webpage www.sykkelløftet.no as a beacon for everyone, this will be a place where information and attitude will be spread and made more easy available. In addition we need to be visible to the public and members of the public to promote the excellence and possibilities of using bicycles.
The way of work and priorities of the Bicycle Promise will be handled by a resource group including representatives from corporations that have promoted cycling in a long time and have had the best practise to show.
The webpage is still being developed and in 2012 you will find more work cycling routs (jobbsykkelruter), pictures and advises for better everyday cycling.
Please feel free to visit the web page and be inspired:
http://www.sykkelloftet.no
Text and photo by Helmer Berre
Translated by Håvard Wattum
The Bicycle Promotion is making a cinema advert and wants YOU in the role!
More and more do it. Some because they have to, others because its nice. We want to know why you are cycling to work?
The Bicycle Promotions goal is to make 1 out of 5 chose cycling instead of driving. As a part of the work to change the habit we want to make a cinema advert. In that matter we need help – and someone have to be the main person.
The cinema advert will in 15 seconds time tell the advantages of cycling instead of other ways of travelling.
We are asking – why do YOU use your bicycle to work. The question should be answered by 15 seconds of movie. The businesses are free to develop idea, concept and direction. Helps are the que words happiness, advantage, freedom and benefits.
A jury of people from the Bicycle promotion, Capa and the production company “Filmavdelingen”, will evaluate YOUR idea. There will be picked out three ideas to be developed further and made cinema advert in the spring 2012.
Do YOU want to get involved? Don’t miss this deadline: 1st February 2012.
Send your sketch to:
Helmer Berre
berre@stavanger-chamber.no