Reporting on the 2-mile Challenge launched by the Clif Bar company to promote cycling for short urbasn journeys in the U.S.
I said in this blog just over a week ago that Cycling can help save the planet. Now here’s what looks like a great way of highlighting this - both the need to get more people cycling, and how easy it is to do. It’s especially relevant to U.S. residents, but the broader message is equally pertinent everywhere.
Clif Bar & Co, makers of some of the best and most natural energy bars you can buy, have launched their 2-Mile Challenge. It’s beautiful in its simplicity; forty percent of U.S. urban travel is over distances of 2 miles or less. In an urban setting, over that sort of distance, it’s been proven time and time again, that bikes are quicker than cars, buses, or any other form of ‘rapid transit’. And, of course, healthier.
Not only do they urge people to use bikes for these short journeys, you can use the website to create a map of your personal 2-mile zone. For many people this encompasses a large slice of their life - any or all of school, work, shops, sports, leisure can be within a 2-mile radius.
They’ve also been running a tour of the Western States (now almost at an end) - with a biodiesel-powered bus. There’s still time to get down to REI in Seattle today (2nd November) or see them at the University of Orgeon, Eugene, tomorrow, November 3rd.
Oh yes: the original Clif Bar is said to have been born after a 175-mile bike ride. You shouldn’t have the same need to refuel during a 2-miler!
