DoE urges pedal power to cut carbon footprint
(CNS): The use of bicycles as a means of transport in the Cayman Islands is nowhere near as high as in many other jurisdictions, where cycling has become a legitimate form of transport for many people. In an effort to try and boost the use of pedal power because of its obvious direct and significant impact on cutting the carbon footprint of any country, the Department of Environment is trying to find out what it will take to get Caymanians on their bikes.
In its latest Earth Month Survey, the DoE is asking why people here are not using two wheels to get around and what can be done to reduce the barriers that prevent people using an exceptionally environmentally-friendly means of transport that also helps to keep people fit.
“The carbon footprint, and therefore the environmental impact, of transport is one of the most significant we have as a population,” a DoE spokesperson said. “A simple and effective way of reducing that impact is to increase our use of fossil fuel free transport alternatives such as cycling. In many places around the world the use of cycling as a means of everyday transport is much greater than in Cayman.
“In an effort to increase the uptake of cycling and other similar forms of transport locally, the DoE is conducting a public opinion survey to better identify the opportunities for and barriers against this. It is hoped that with a better understanding of the issues we will be able to encourage more environmentally friendly travel and cut down on our carbon footprint as a country.”
One barrier could be addressed by offices offering shower and changing facilities to staff but the DoE is hoping to find out what else could be done to tempt more people to cycle.
Category: Land Habitat, Marine Environment, Science & Nature
DOE you need to start with CUC.
As well as, any and all stanky diesel vehicles.
30% of the gasoline passes unburned through a two-stroke engine and is emitted as airborne particulate with exhaust. This particulate cloud is 300x worse than a car’s exhaust. It creates a carcinogenic smog which can raise the temperature of urban areas by double digit degrees. If you actually work for the DoE on this steering committee and are dismissive of this science, then perhaps, in some way, you should requalify.
Bike paths are needed if cycling is to be a viable (let alone recommended) option. If/when the Ironwood bypass is built, a bike path might be included with the project.
You’re itching to peddle through the stagnant swamplands of middle earth with your club bag? That’s hardcore something.
All I can say is where is the lol button? The replies are hilarious but unfortunately true. The heat deters me the most. Who wants to go to their office stink and sweaty?
If you survive the heat and the dangerous drivers you may come out at the end of the day with your bike stolen. Nah, take the car.
Lead by example DoE!
This Wednesday (Earth Day) have half of your staff ride to work on bicycles. Get some feedback (from those who make it through the day alive) and let us know on Friday if you still think it’s a good idea to convince the wider public it’s safe to ride bicycles as their primary form of transportation.
This might be an effective, but callous way of reducing the civil service numbers
Earth day was last Wednesday and the DOE did promote a travel to work by alternative means initiative within the department. This included not just cycling but kayaking, sailing and even car pooling to reduce carbon footprints.
Remind me again why we as Country should celebrate Earth Day when we have a toxic Mountain smouldering away and polluting our North Sound on a yearly basis?
Earth Day is on April 22. Every year.
Seven deaths this year alone, two in the last few days and this is what DoE is pushing? Give me a break.
As a kid growing up in Cayman (late 80’s), I rode my bike everywhere. Going to school, friends houses, karate, squash, the beach. It was great. Now I have a 10 year old who can’t even ride a bike. Even if he could, no way in the world would I let him ride freely the way I did growing up. The roads are simply too dangerous and not conducive to bikes or pedestrians.
Why not lower the import duty presently charged for motorcycles. They are way too high for a more economic means of transport. That might help lower our overall fuel consumption.
2-stroke engines are a significant contributor to air pollution, by a factor of 300x.
Strictly speaking of carbon footprints and fuel consumption (which this article is), motorbikes and scooters have a much smaller impact. the 300x impact is not considering all air pollutants only hydrocarbons.
UNEP estimates that particulate emissions from a single 2-stroke motorcycle is comparable to those from a diesel truck or bus.
http://www.unep.org
I have two bikes, both 4 strokes. I can travel from North Side to GT, move around there, go to West Bay, and return to NS, all for $3.50 fill up! Beat that, and a lower carbon foot print that is. We should have lower import tarrifs on these fuel savers. What says the Govt.?
Here’s another scientific fact: about 30% of the fuel comes out of the exhaust un-burnt in 2-stroke engines. One of the least efficient motor designs in the history of humanity.
Suggestion: push NRA to add cycle lanes to WB Road once the speed limit is reduced. Not just on the south section but also the northern part (Salt Creek to WB Fire Station). Add speed contorl bumps to WB Road to enforce speed without the need for Police, just like outside the new Government building.
Speed humps are rarely executed properly here. They add wear and tear to vehicle tires, suspensions, drivers and passengers, and create a needless and inefficient braking and acceleration event that consumes much more fuel.
Anonymous at 12.07 pretty much hit the nail on the head for me
Firstly, the Caymanian climate is completely hostile to cycling. I am not going to start turning up at work hyperventilating, dehydrated and drowning in sweat.
Second, our roads are atrocious. I can’t see many bikes lasting very long on the surfaces we have.
Third, what few road safety laws we have are never enforced and the roads are a death trap as far as cyclists are concerned. Drink driving, speeding, undertaking are rife, and barely 1 in 10 seems to know how to use a roundabout.
Cyclists themselves don’t help with their random approach to which side of the road they should drive on and their refusal to make themselves visible at night.
The government will never find the funds necessary to make our roads safe for cyclists. They can’t make ends meet with what they have and there is no public appetite for increased taxes to pay for this.
I’m afraid that soundbites about global warming and the environment are all very well, but all the worm words in the world are not going to make Cayman a safe place to cycle in.
Correct on all points. And as long as Japan pushes its used cars out to the left side driving world in vast numbers at bargain prices puts paid to the notion of riding as a means of transport.
Right now, I feel I’m a happy, balanced sort of guy, but I know things can change on a dime. Life hits you out of left field, real fast. So if I ever get depressed, suicidal like, I’ll think about that carbon footprint thing, maybe buy a bike, say goodbye to my friends and cycle to work. I’ll pray it’s quick and easy, a big truck perhaps or a speeding drunk. And if by chance the bike’s okay, please donate it to the ‘Cayman’s United Citizens Against Big Carbon Footprints Society.’ They’ll know what to do with the money it raises, and I’ll know I was peddling to my death with purpose. On my tombstone I want it recorded: “Here lies a man: You are as I was: I am as you will be, the only difference being my tiny carbon feet.”
After living here 29 years, I just gave up on cycling on the major roads last year due to safety concern. I’ve had drivers intentionally swerve to attempt to knock me off the bike on multiple occasions, but I was un-deterred and kept cycling. It got to the point where I had a close pass with serious injury…about every 2nd time I went out on the road, whether that be drivers or someone’s inbred pit-bull chasing me. Twice I was been struck by vehicles with relatively minor injury ( back in the 90’s), Had my leg mauled by a dog a few years ago, in the street where I live, of all places . Given the events of the last 7 days on our roads, it is almost a joke that DOE comes up with this proposal and its posted here on CNS, right under the news of the cyclist & pedestrian fatalities.
Good Christians driving huge urban assault vehicles fast and dangerously.
The angry fat women driving large SUVs in from West Bay are the worst. If only they ate less cake.
Angry cake.
In this heat?! You mussah crazy!
Here is what it will take : moving the Cayman Islands to a temperature climate latitude; repairs to all the roads to 20th century standards (21st century is asking for too much); banning 85% of current drivers from the roads and a huge pile of cash. And a unicorn. Preferably a talking unicorn.
Before DoE starts arbitrarily demonizing cars as the lead source of our carbon footprint: two stroke gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and trimmers, emit almost 300 times more toxic carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide hydrocarbon gases as a pickup truck. Two stroke jet skis are in the same category of inefficiency. How many of these items are droning away all day, every day? Add to that, almost all of our electrical power comes from diesel-fired generation. It seems a bit lazy to pick on cars against this reality. I would hope that people can eventually feel safe enough to cycle to work for more personally relevant reasons – topping that list should be: cardiovascular, and mental health. Our quality of life would be vastly improved with better cycle lane planning and execution.
It would be interesting to know the source of this information (‘300 times more toxic…’). The carbon emissions of cars etc. do account for a much greater proportion of carbon emissions than the other sources you mentioned, although the figures are hard to come by locally. The issue of electrical power generation is obviously important but more relevant to the previous survey on renewable energy. It hardly an arbitrary issue.
It’s well understood science. Here’s one article, lots of others on the subject:
“the two-stroke engine emitted nearly 299 times the hydrocarbons of the pickup truck and 93 times the hydrocarbons of the sedan”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-bad-for-the-environment-are-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/2013/09/16/8eed7b9a-18bb-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html
Granted, the amount of hydrocarbons emitted by 2-strokes can be as high as that, I was concerned about the 300 x the amount of carbon monoxide as you stated in your first comment. That is misleading. Regardless, looking specifically at carbon emissions, as a source transport is a far bigger issue to address than leaf blowers etc. All the DOE are trying to do is identify sustainability issues with a hope to addressing them. Even if those issues are that it happens to not be the ideal climate here (perhaps shade trees along cycle lanes could be a viable option) or that drivers are not considerate enough. I suppose all of these comments are in some way valuable feedback.
In fact the marketing slogan to increase the use of cycling could be “Execute lane planning not the cyclist”. Do you think it could take off?
Try to be positive.. at least it’s a step in the right direction. Such radical changes won’t happen overnight but we should all work towards safer roads and driver/rider/pedestrian education.
Is the DoE liable in court for damages when I get knocked off my bike and left for dead?
Events in the last week should provide clear evidence as to why people are hesitant to ride to work on their bicycle. You only need to be a regular driver on roads to know how utterly incompetent a lot people are behind the wheel of their car, then bring the Taxi’s and Buses into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster.
You raise a good point here, one of safety. Notwithstanding that I am sure many white collar workers who live within a short distant of their work place would like to cycle to work but apart from the hotels how many employers have shower facilities?