Pedal Power(a)|两轮当道

Pedal Power

by Brian Foden

Can you stop taking motorized vehicles to work for one month?

If you've ever considered using pedal power instead of a car, bus, or scooter to get to school or work but haven't actually done it, May might be a good time to take the plunge. If you do so, you'll also be following an American tradition. In the US, May 18, 2012 is Bike to Work Day, which is part of Bike to Work Week from May 14 to 18 and Bike Month. Bike to Work Week is held annually during the third week in May, while Bike to Work Day takes place on the third Friday in May.

The origin of these initiatives dates back more than 55 years. In 1956, May was designated as Bike Month by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), which is an association that promotes cycling and bike safety and was founded in 1880 as the League of American Wheelmen. As part of its efforts, the LAB tracks data on cycling in the United States. The association notes that from 2000 to 2010, there was a large increase in the number of people who biked to work as their primary mode of transportation. Even so, the figures still only added up to a total of half of one percent of Americans.

The LAB also conducted research on what motivated this minute percentage of the United States population to cycle to work. In a survey mentioned on its website, 95 percent of the respondents listed improving health and fitness as a reason. Other motives for biking to work mentioned by the 2,400 riders who participated in the survey included helping the environment, avoiding traffic congestion, saving money on gas, and avoiding parking fees and hassles.

两轮当道

你可以持续一个月不靠引擎发动的交通工具上班吗？

如果你曾经考虑骑脚踏车上学或上班，而不靠汽车、公交车或机车，但尚未这么做的话，5月会是个付诸实际行动的好时机。如果你这么做，你也将搭上 1 个美国传统活动的列车。在美国，2012年的 5 月 18 日是『骑脚踏车上班日』，是 5 月14 日到 18 日的『骑脚踏车上班周』和『脚踏车月』的一部分。『骑脚踏车上班周』在每年 5 月的第 3 个礼拜举办，而『骑脚踏车上班日』则在 5 月的第 3 个星期五举行。

这些提议的起源可追溯至超过 55 年前。在 1956 年，5月被美国脚踏车骑士联盟（LAB）命名为『脚踏车月』，这个提倡骑脚踏车和骑车安全的协会在 1880 年创立，当时叫做美国骑脚踏车男士联盟。LAB的部分成就是追踪收集美国关于骑脚踏车的资料。这个协会注意到在 2000 年到 2010 年间，把骑脚踏车做为上班主要通勤方式的人口有大幅度的成长。即便如此，这些人加总起来仍然仅占美国总人口的百分之零点五。

LAB也着手研究是什么原因使美国人口中这些极少比例的人骑脚踏车上班。在其网站所提到的 1 项调查中，百分之九十五的应答者把促进身体健康列为其中 1 项原因。参与调查的 2 千 4 百名骑士所提到的其他动机还包含环保、避免交通阻塞、省下加油钱和免掉停车费和停车时的麻烦等。