Sustainable Kilimetres
Back on the Sustainable Wagon
On January 1st 2012 I took up a challenge of raising money for charity Kick4Life, with the target for climbing Kilimanjaro at the end and promoting sustainable travel in the process. This tied in nicely with Kick4Life's 'Recycle' scheme as detailed below and my profession as a Transport Planner.
This was a great experience, helping me learn (and promote) more about sustainable travel and appreciate the world around me a little more too.
But half way through the year I was getting a little travel sick.
I lost my smartphone and the ability to communicate and take photos on the move. I lost it on a South West Train.
I became aware that I just did not have enough fuel in the engine, enough pedal power, or the right travel conditions to complete this particular journey towards Kilimanjaro.
I am a car driver and occasionally board a plane.
But I'm also a cyclist, a bus, coach, train and boat passenger, a car sharer and a pedestrian. I still believe there is and must be other viable and attractive choices to getting out and about than getting in the car every time.
Our places need to be geared up to support this; financially, socially and spatially.
My questions are still there:
Will the natural default option of car driving become less 'natural' and less 'default' in our society?
Should it?
What do other options look like and what is there to gain and lose from them? And;
Will real sustainable travel change for the masses come about in our lifetime?
So please join me on this journey I've picked up on again - even if Kilimanjaro is no longer (for me) the destination. And please do still help me contribute to the cause I introduce furtherbelow.
Thanks!
Kick4Life and the ReCYCLE Programme
Kick4Life have a development model in place to help address challenges around HIV/AIDS, employment and education for young people in Lesotho.
The 'ReCYCLE programme' is a social enterprise where orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) use bicycles and trailers to collect recyclables each week from subscribing customers.
The ReCYCLE Programme promotes recycling in the capital Maseru, and provides young people with an opportunity to generate income (through earning points) for supporting a school education, apprenticeships or training.
By nature the ReCYCLE Programme also helps promote cycling as a way of getting about. The development of any country should involve the availability of ways of travelling that are: multiple, accessible, affordable, enjoyable and healthy -especially a country where the biggest killers are the car and AIDS.
Sustainable Kilimetres is fuelled by the support and encouragement of others. Please add Sustainable Kilimetres by getting in touch or make a donation at the 'Just Giving' page or by texting SUSK55 and an amount in £s to 70070. This journey can also be followed (and 'liked') on Facebook
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