UP students pedal their way to the future

By Marlon Ramos Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: June 14, 2008

ON HER WAY TO CLASS LAST summer on the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, Michiko Alcanzare's attention was caught by the colorful wheel disks of a bicycle parked on the grounds of Palma Hall. Curious, the Physics student approached the bike and saw the words "padyak.org" written on the wheel disks. "I thought the design was really cool. I had a feeling that it was some kind of a bike-for-rent scheme," she said. When she logged onto the Internet to check the web site, Alcanzare found out that padyak.org was a recently launched project offering bikes as an alternative mode of transportation for UP students. She signed on a few days later and became one of 16 students who participated in the project's test run last April. Dr. Filomin Gutierrez, an associate professor of the UP Department of Sociology and a former UP Mountaineer (UPM), said she and other ex-UPM members came up with the idea for the project during a reunion last December. "We were drinking then at a post-Christmas party when a fellow UPM alumnus, Louie Cruz, suggested that we should start a bike-for-rent project as our contribution to the UP centennial anniversary," she recalled. "He was actually emotional when he said that it would be our legacy to the university," Gutierrez said with a laugh. "We thought the project was also a good way to mark our 20th anniversary as UPM members," she added. The group met a few days later to discuss the project details, this time, without downing any intoxicating beverages. From the start, Gutierrez said they knew they were faced with a daunting task: Raising funds for the project which they aptly named "UP Padyak." After a few more meetings with other UPM members, the group was able to collect enough money for them to buy two reconditioned bicycles at a warehouse in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Later on, as more contributions came in, they were able to purchase 14 more bicycles—single-speed bikes from Japan with utility baskets mounted on the handlebars where students could place their bags and other belongings. What makes Padyak's bikes unique are the colorful designs on the wheel disks. Among those who designed the disks were Robert Alejandro and Ninoy Leyran. Renowned sculptor Eng Chan, meanwhile, designed a bike rack called "Lapis." The colorful disks—made of sintra boards—also carry slogans and messages about protecting the environment. "The disks also contribute to the safety of the bikes," Gutierrez said. The group's next task was to solicit the help of UP officials in designating a bike lane in the campus and the installation of bike racks in some of the colleges. They also asked the UP Security Brigade for help in guarding the bikes. Aside from offering students an alternative transportation, the bike-for-rent project also promotes a healthy lifestyle and concern for the environment, Gutierrez said. According to her, "While the whole world reels from skyrocketing prices of fuels, bikes offer us respite from rising fare costs, traffic and pollution." For just P500, students enrolled in any course in UP Diliman can rent a bike and use it for the whole semester. They also get a chain lock free of charge. Gutierrez said interested students may go to their website, www.padyak.org, to fill up an application form. Barely three months after the program launching, UP students have already warmed up to the idea of going around the campus on bikes, she added. At present, the group has already rented out all of its 40 bicycles while around 100 students are on the wait list. "We are really surprised by how this project was received by the students. Our website is swamped by applications of students," she said. She added that they have turned away several companies which have offered to sponsor the program. "This was never meant to make money but to demonstrate that anything is possible if people come together," she stressed. Gutierrez said that although they have the money, they decided not to purchase additional bikes just now as they have yet to install bike racks in other buildings on the campus. The group only has two bike stations—both located in Palma Hall. Gutierrez, meanwhile, expressed hope that other universities and communities would adopt the bike project and implement it on their own campuses.

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