2007 Student Bicycle Essay Contest Winners

Here are the winning essays in the 2007 Worldwide Bicycle Fund Student Essay contest. The winners are: Riding A Bike Isn’t Just Just For Fun. by Tiffany Liu, age 7, Jensen Ranch Elementary, Castro Valley, CA Advantages of Biking. by Kathleen Davin, age 13*, Elwood Junior High School, Elwood, NY and, Biking: My Existence, My Love. by Doreen Tsu, age 15, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN. Each author gets to be a cash prize and certificate. Congratulations towards the winners and thanks to any or all the scholars who posted essays. An “honorable mention ” essays will also be published.

* We did not get any records within the age 9-12 groups, but had several worthy records from 13 year olds so made the decision to award the prize from of these.

Riding A Bike Isn’t Just Just For Fun
by Tiffany Liu

I’ve an enjoyable experience riding on the bicycle. I began to ride my brother’s old tricycle after i was 2 yrs old. I remained with this tricycle until I had been four. I Then learned to ride a motorcycle. My parents purchased a girl bicycle that i can ride. I stored falling initially, however i stored practicing until I possibly could ride my bicycle well with two assistant wheels.

My buddy and that i began playing bicycle games at our backyard after school every day. We performed our very own invented games for example eco-friendly light and sore point.

My father frequently takes us to parks nearby for all of us to ride on bike trails. At summer time time, we used to visit Vista Waterpark. We rode our bicycles underneath the waterfalls, round the water features and squirted our water guns at one another. We actually enjoyed bicycle riding.

Eventually Ms. Persephone, my brother’s tutor, gave us an envelope having a donation form inside.

She’ll join greater than 2000 cyclists inside a 545 mile journey from Bay Area to La within the AIDS/Existence CYCLE 6 ride. She’ll ride typically 80 miles each day lower the California coast, camping in ten metropolitan areas on the way from June 3 to June 9, 2007.

To be able to participate about this trek, she must raise no less than $2500 to assist benefit individuals with Aids/AIDS disease. I requested Ms. Persephone what’s AIDS?, How does someone get AIDS? and Can there be any remedy for AIDS patients?. She described around
she knows. Even I do not understand completely, however i know there’s no cure to date. Individuals are living with or in danger of Aids/AIDS. I couldn’t hold my tears as i heard that ill children die everyday. The wedding would be to raise money to complete research which help affected people. As we heard that, my buddy and that i made the decision to give our very own money earned from contest prizes and doing chores. My buddy and that i donated $a hundred dollars.

Bicycle riding isn’t just just for fun, it might help individuals that need assistance. I intend to strive on bicycle riding and eliminate assistant wheel as quickly as possible. I really hope at some point, I possibly could be a part of individuals significant bike treks.

Bicycles, once being among the primary way of transportation in today’s world, have finally become almost minor to individuals today. I recall standing on visit to San antonio, Washington and going to some street fair focused on bicycles known as Tour de Fat.

Only at that fair I stumbled upon a poster for purchase. The poster displayed an image of the regular roadway, but rather of getting a little lane quietly particularly for bicycles, there is the biggest lane for bicycles along with a small lane for cars.

I have faith that with great effort and dedicated citizens our country turn into a rustic where cars will be the minority. Just take the time to consider it. Every single day vast amounts of people drive their cars without considering the outcome they’ve on the society. Bicycles are hardly even a choice in many American’s minds today. It’s either too harmful, too much, or they are too lazy. If bicycles, were the way in which everybody traveled, there’d be no excuses to take a less active method of transportation. Everything would become bicycle friendly because almost no cars could be present to remove the path from the biker’s. The whole country could be fit, and also active.

All the issues that we frequently face today would be a factor of history. Television commercials from the newest model taking the newest weight loss supplement would seem like nothing when compared with he hard-core bicyclist that actually takes proper care of herself the proper way. The model’s face might be airbrushed on perfectly, but it’s nothing when compared to healthy muscles from the bicyclist.

One more reason to advertise cycling will be the great reduction in pollution. Every single day automobiles create congestion, noise and smog. Bicycles however, are convenient, quiet, and non-polluting vehicles. Although not even as fast and efficient as cars, they allow you to your destination whilst becoming an enjoyable activity.

When compared with cars, bicycles will also be significantly less costly to function. The do not require gasoline which in recent days has greatly elevated in cost. Since they’re simpler vehicles, they do not require just as much extensive maintenance, some time and care. Every single day a large number of vehicle dealerships come forth with the most recent form of a hybrid, why not purchase a motorcycle rather.

Far away in which the human population is much smaller sized, bicycles are an easy way to obtain places. Many companies use bicycle with paperboys, messengers, food delivery people, and they’re even accustomed to tow passengers around in main metropolitan areas. Even when everyone within this country just required 10 mins more from their regular commute to bike to operate, the outcome could be unbelievably great, as well as healthy, cheaper, and for that atmosphere. Imagine — if everybody did something small, the whole country might be completely switched around with the advantages of biking incorporated.

Biking. My Existence, My Love
by Doreen Tsu

Ever bike? Now that’s something which makes existence worth living! I take exercise every mid-day this way. Oh, to simply grip your handlebars and lay lower into it, and go ripping and tearing through roads and road, over railroad tracks and bridges, threading crowds, staying away from collisions, at twenty miles or even more an hour or so, and wondering constantly when you are likely to smash up. Now, that’s something! After which go back home again after three hrs from it, in to the tub, rub lower well, then right into a soft shirt and lower towards the dining room table, using the evening paper along with a glass of vino in prospect – after which to consider that tomorrow I will do it all once again!
— Jack London

For the whole span of my existence, I’ve been infatuated, obsessed, excessively and somewhat unhealthily gripped with my one true love—my bicycle. I am talking about, seriously, who might resist the appeal and charm from the dazzling flamboyance from the shiny metal wheels, mesmerizing in being able to wow? The shiny paint flashes flauntingly to bystanders, and also the handy little bell is just irresistible! However, my reference to this essential facet of my existence doesn’t just come lower to the superficial appearance, however a deeper emotionally poignant side too. The storyline weaves its web like a kid. Flash back 10 years in to the recesses of my memory towards the petite and chubby me. Though very few recollections can withstand the trial of your time, one vision which has absolutely defied this law is the very first time I received my tricycle. I clearly remember my beloved mother wrangling groceries, and—lo and behold—something of the peculiar shape which i had vaguely seen before! Eagerly I wobbled lower the space to greet her. Her gentle eyes smiled playfully as she described, or at best attempted to educate me how this mysterious searching device labored. Although I had been initially reluctant to tackle this machine, I fearlessly recognized the task as well as in my nave four-year-old self, I jumped on. Nothing. Disappointment tears folded lower my cheekbones. Why could my buddy easily glide through land with this particular vehicle and never I? Nonetheless, over time, I came to get the understanding and strategies of mowing the lawn. I learned that it requires the movement of legs to propel the bike forward—thus exactly why I develop with mowing the lawn. It might still take many occasions of trials and errors and crashes before I possibly could master the skill of cycling. I truly don’t know—perhaps it had been the thrill of whizzing by neighboring kids, their faces stunned with amazement, or could it have been the wind blowing against my face that gave my absolute exhilaration, but biking grew to become an important element of my existence which i could never possibly choose days without. Even if I grew to become saturated with homework or sick having a high fever, biking was always certainly one of my top priorities, and never biking a couple of hrs would find me within the depths of despair and misery. However, my very own little realm of bicycles required another deeply emotional aspect at the time that my carefree and straightforward world came crashing lower. On that day was the hauntingly damp Floridian day which i shall never forget—the day’s my birthday. Which was your day I discovered that my mother had sustained several permanently debilitating herniated dvds that will cripple her for life… which was even the day that my dad lost his breadwinning job. Which was your day that my existence nosedived and crashed. Before, I had been an ordinary teen—I loved to spend time with buddies, gossip, and concentrate on school. Following this rather traumatic occurrence, I used to be changed into a woman which i would’ve never recognized today. In hindsight, I recognize that my depressive approach and philosophy on existence wasn’t healthy, but my gloomy mood and sudden unresponsiveness to society helped me virtually friendless. However, I understood that through this time around of struggle I’d one true friend which i could always depend on: my Off-shore Shorewood Cruise bike. Over these occasions, riding my bicycle grew to become a regular staple. It had been a kind of emotional release—a method to benefit from the nonchalant feelings which i formerly had, a numbing method to ignore reality, a method to feel bliss and never discomfort. My bike was my lifesaver, and that’s an undeniable fact that I’ll always remember and become eternally grateful for. Thankfully, things began searching up next one responsive and caring teacher required time to acknowledge my mental condition and coaxed me in to the normal girl that i’m now. My father finally found an execllent job, and my mother does remarkably well, I’m pleased to report. Nevertheless, you will find scars of these mode remain… a scar that should never be capable of being erased. Nowadays, I’m thriving within my school, participating fully in class, sports, clubs, and social activities. Regardless of this, I’m never in a position to your investment tool which i searched for security in probably the most: my bike. Like a recovery process, I would like so that you can help other people who have undergone exactly the same situation I’ve. Since that time, I continued to be a biker, although a far more intense form of it. However, I possibly could never discover the outlet in your area to talk about my passion with other people. It came naturally so that as no real surprise in my experience after i made the decision to create my very own bike club. My goals were too boost the visibility of biking inside my small Indiana town to more and more people who might ultimately find their real love. I would like so that you can really make a difference to other people through my efforts in outreach using biking because the means as others have formerly done. Furthermore, beginners and experts are asked equally to participate a forum and community of bikers to possess organized biking journeys in addition to networking for buddies. Today the biking club thrives, and that i obtain the finest pleasure by presenting individuals who would’ve otherwise didn’t have the chance to obtain uncovered towards the wonderful realm of biking. Unquestionably, I credit my current condition of rejuvenation to biking due to the immense mental and physical support it’s given me. May biking continue in the glory…

Honorable Mention

The Economical Advantages of Cycling
by Dan Horning

Since its conception, huge numbers of people have utilized the bicycle for a lot of practical and recreational purposes. They’ve developed into a global-wide industry, and finding out how to ride a motorcycle is becoming a bit of the right of passage in areas of the U . s . States. On the top of the, bicycles have experienced a significant effect on the worldwide economy. The bicycle is among the most economically advantageous modes of transportation they might require little maintenance, are non-harmful towards the atmosphere, generate huge amount of money in tourism, they improve the healthiness of the rider, and they’re less costly than other modes of transportation.

Using the average cost of the gallon of gasoline at $2.70, it’s very costly they are driving to operate, school, in order to vacation. Just going anywhere are now able to take advantage of an individual blind. However, the bicycle doesn’t use gasoline. Instead of being susceptible to gasoline cost fluctuations, a motorcycle is powered simply by the pack leader riding it, and it takes only one good full meal to energy that engine.

An average joe is suggested to intake about 2000 calories daily. An individual traveling on the bicycle uses about .049 calories per pound from the rider each minute. A vehicle, however, uses about 4 liters of fuel, or the same as 31,000 calories. If an individual could consume 4 liters of fuel, that individual could ride for around 912 miles on individuals 4 liters of fuel. Presently, 238 million gallons of gasoline are saved by individuals who cycle rather of utilizing automobiles.

Bicycles save people 1000s of dollars each year. There aren’t any insurance charges to pay for, no parking meter charges, not to mention, no gasoline. Maintenance pricing is minuscule when compared with individuals for automobiles. Automobiles frequently require new carburetors, engines, tires, along with other assorted items that equal to 1000s of dollars each year. A motorcycle may require a new tire and chain, costing under a couple of $ 100. Equipment like a new seat, head gear and mitts is only going to equal to about $100.

By not using gasoline, bicycles don’t harm the atmosphere. They don’t release co2 in to the air, and they don’t reduce quality of air for individuals around them. They don’t create considerable amounts of noise like airplanes do, and they don’t require a 5 lane highway to obtain from point A to suggest B. Eminent Domain wouldn’t be an issue for creating a path for cyclists to visit on. Bicycles don’t ruin the terrain around automobiles do therefore, road maintenance costs would decrease if more citizens started to make use of bicycles over cars.

Bicycles have produced their very own new branch of tourism. Increasing numbers of people take to bicycles to determine the wonders of Africa, the mountain tops of Europe, or even the heartland of the usa. Entrepreneurs are actually starting to focus on cyclists, thus generating local economies. Cycling vacations could be affordable, and much more scenery is visible over a regular a vacation in a town. Rather of getting to cover pricey coach buses or subways, a motorcycle may take an individual from point A to suggest B without these charges. Also, roughly 6 to twenty bicycles can be put in a single automobile parking space, conserving parking and storage costs.

On the top of this, bicycles will also be excellent methods to improve personal health. As huge numbers of people face issues concerning how much they weigh and the chance of weight problems, cycling offers an effective yet affordable to lose extra fat. Since cycling at approximately 15 miles per hour requires about .049 calories per pound each minute, you’ll be able to melt away about 515 calories within 1 hour. Weight loss people decide to try cycling and enhance their lives, health costs will decrease, therefore lowering insurance costs and reducing the requirement for costly medications.

The bicycle has already established a serious impact upon the worldwide economy. Yet it’s also altered the economical status of the baby person. It saves 1000s of dollars each year on fuel and maintenance costs, it’s generated a brand new branch of tourism that may save and generate money, they lessen the erosion from the atmosphere, plus they assistance to lower healthcare costs by improving the healthiness of the rider. Within an era where individuals are involved about how exactly they’ll pay their bills, using the bicycle is a small yet simple method for saving money and improve the caliber of existence because of not just the rider however for individuals round the rider.

Mozer, David. Less-Civilized World Bicycle Tourism. Worldwide Bicycle Fund. Updated 2007. Offered at: world wide web.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/eco-tourism.htm Visited 4 April 2007.

No author. What is the method to compare a person for an engine when it comes to efficiency? How Stuff Works. Updated 2007. Offered at: auto.howstuffworks.com/question527.htm Visited 4 April 2007.

No author. Ride for Economy. League of yankee Bicyclists . Updated 2007. Visited 4 April 2007.

No author. Ride for Transportation. League of yankee Bicyclists . Updated 2007. Visited 5 April 2007.

No author. Bicycle subsidies and unintended effects. Ecological Financial aspects. Updated 17 October 2005. Offered at: world wide web.env-econ.internet/2005/10/bicycle_subsidi.html Visited 5 April 2007.