Ride for the change!
Created by: Sergiu Popa, Rodica Timotin, Holban Elena, Victoria Ous, Elena Isac.
School: Mircea Eliade Lyceum
Country: Moldova
1. Problem
The major problem of our society regarding the climate change consists mainly in the concentration of harmful gases in the atmosphere. An important fact that has to be taken into consideration is that CO2 represents the main “negative character”, consisting about 34% of all of the greenhouse-effect gases. There are several main sources of CO2: power stations, industrial processes, transportation fuels, agricultural bio products, etc. Still, the transportation system generates 34% of the total carbon emissions, a huge share. This is how we get to the conclusion that in order to reduce carbon emissions a reform in the transportation system is vital, and in order for it to be done worldwide it is necessary for it to be implemented at local level. Furthermore, if we refer to growing cities, infrastructure and transportation problems have been increasing lately. Traffic jams, inefficient public transportation, the increasing cost of having and maintaining a car, all this lead to the redirection towards other means of transportation which are actually implemented in some countries.
2. Actor
1. The Ministry of Transport- that would elaborate the detailed plan according to which the reform mentioned above will be implemented- and the Ministry of Ecology-that would support and promote the plan
2. The Municipal Council that is responsible to approve the plan
3. NGO, found throughout United Nations Foundation For Climate Change,that would grant part of the necessary sums of money for implementing the project (more information provided below in the plan)
4. Specialized organs,employees that would perform the so-called work
5. Media and advertising companies
3.Action
We are going to present a first step of the global warming solution: a local reform of the transportation system in the city Chisinau, Rep. of Moldova.
To be more exact, this reform would consist in using a less harmful transportation mean. The great obstacle in using it as a main transportation mean is the fact that in our city there are no facilities for cyclists. As mentioned, in order to increase the rate of the cyclists we must firstly supply the proper conditions, which implies creating lanes, so that the cyclists would move perfectly safe within the city, and creating the parking places for the bicycles in high-schools and universities, work-places, parks, on the streets. Below is presented the description of the steps and the means through which our plan will be implemented
a) Creating lanes :
Once the Transport Department of Chisinau approves our plan, which would take 2- 3 years, people will be hired and the lanes will be crossed using yellow paint for marking. These lanes with a width of 50 cm will be placed on the side walk, as in cities like Vienna and Amsterdam, because their placement on the street would create problems.
The basic lanes and parking lots can be designed and set up in even one year, but for the projects to extend will be needed some more time. Furthermore, this plan is a long term one, which does not have an end point.
b)Creating parking places and bike racks:
1. With the decision to build parking spaces for bikes taken by the Mayoralty of Chisinau, a meeting will be held with the representatives of schools from Chisinau with the purpose of informing them of this innovation. Although building parking places will be insisted on, the actual implementation will be decided by the schools. Also there will be created places on the streets throughout the city where people will be able to park their bikes. The next thing to do will be importing the bike racks. We have found a company in Romania that offers a bike rack for 5 bikes with 400 lei or 80 lei per place. Taking into account the large amount of bike racks imported a discount will be applied reducing the price to 75 lei per place. According to European standards we would have to ensure parking spaces for 10% of the students and 5% of the faculty members, leading to an approximate 60-70 places per lyceum. In order to supply parking places for the city of Chisinau a number of 50 schools is expected to be covered. Making the proper calculations, 50 schools each having 60-70 parking places with a cost of 75 lei per place and an extra 15 lei for their placement, the total costs will be about 35000 lei. Although it seems like much, it is the exact opposite. This sum can be easily received from international NGOs, for there are many NGOs that support the reduction of carbon. An example of such an organization is the International Biking Committee or IBC.
c) Educating the society:
Once all the measures will be taken in order to make the bike riding possible, there will be needed an input from the society to actually use the opportunities given. To promote the bike ridings should be easy due to their high popularity in the European countries. The media will take care of that, several volunteers will work on campaigns to promote it and in the end, the society will adopt this lifestyle.
4.Benefits
- Reducing pollutants
As the bicycle is
- Healthier lifestyle
Another advantage is the fact that cycling is one of the most healthy transportation means. Only 15 minutes of locomotion with the bicycle in every day represents a sufficient stimulus for industrious physical and psychical activity for the entire day. The benefit consisted in creating facilities for cyclists would contribute to the intellectual development of the pupils and increasing the longevity of the citizens. One rough calculation suggests that new cyclists covering short distances can reduce their risk of death (mainly due to the reduction of heart disease) by as much as 22 per cent. Moderate exercise has been found to reduce levels of depression and stress, improve mood. This is the type of exercise that is most effective at promoting good health. For example, cycling reduces the risk of serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and the most common form of diabetes.
3. Spending less money
We should not forget that bicycles are the second cheaper transportation means, after walking, BUT it is more convenient. So the expenses for transport would decrease a lot. . Just think of the fact that five tanks of gas ($325-20 gallons of gas at $3.25/gallon x 5 fill-ups.), will equal one bike well-suited for commuting(even if a Raleigh Venture, which is a 7-speed bike with 26-inch wheels, is priced at $260). Furthermore families will be able to invest in other comodities for themselves. The benefit for population would be a major one since the financial factor is very significant for the flowering of the society
5.Advantages
In order to understand the advantages of this plan we have to consider the benefits presented above and how they change the status quo. The first and most important advantage is the reduction in CO2 emissions and the contribution towards the fight against climate change. Today this is one of the most debatable topics and if implemented in as many countries as possible, it will contribute to the overall improvement of the situation. Furthermore, the plan is going to bring advantage to the country as a whole. In a relatively young country as Moldova, an European initiative will bring a modern perspective and will raise the social activeness. Considering the not developed infrastructure of Chisinau, and other regions in Moldova, this plan will actually bring an efficient, “clean” and cost-effective alternative.
6.Convince us
Through this plan we have tried to show that if this method were implemented, there will be a decrease in emissions of carbon emissions, which would strongly weaken the greenhouse effect and consequently improve the nowadays situation about the global crisis. Nonetheless what makes this plan the best to implement is that it takes the societies input. Every person can make a little change in his own lifestyle but contribute a lot to the overall effect. Another good thing about this plan is that any country can adopt it. We have presented it according to Moldova, but any country could do that. Private companies could find solutions for the industries, but what we present is the best plan for the society! It is a long standing plan with long term benefits.
“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.”
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