Dodong Flores on Clean Commuting and a Healthier Lifestyle

At this present time when global warming and climate change is a much debated subject by environmental activists and world leaders, many people have turned to bicycles as their preferred method of transport. Those who wish to contribute positive impact to the environment opt to cycle to work rather than drive their car or take public ride. This is just one of the many benefits of bikes, you can get from A to B without worries of leaving carbon footprints which is harmful towards the environment.

Another great advantage of bicycle is the fact that if you do choose to cycle to go to work, you know that you won't get stuck in traffic congestion. In most advance countries where cycling is a very popular mode of transport, bicycle lanes are provided so even if there is heavy congestion, you don't have to get stuck in the middle of it. As a result it is a much more relaxing way of commuting to and from work and you don't have to worry about hours of extra time being added onto your journey if you get stuck in major traffic.

This is what Dodong Flores comes to mind having been experienced the morning hardship of getting a public ride from his home in Manggahan, Pasig to his work in Shaw Blvd. Jeepneys coming from Antipolo, Tanay, Binangonan, Morong, Taytay that passed by in his jeepney stop are already full at every morning rush. He would endure waiting for his ride for more than an hour before he can finally board one. And when he's taken his jeepney ride, that will be another forty-five minutes of battling with traffic congestion going to his destination. By then, he's already two hours late at work.

Wanting to end the sufferings of commuting through public ride, Mr. Flores finally decided to get a bicycle for his commuter. In this new lifestyle, he's not only incorporating exercise into his daily commute, he also saves his transportation allowance, his one-hour and forty-five minutes of public transport ride is reduced to a twenty minutes bike commute, and above everything else, he is reducing his own carbon footprints thus helping out to save the environment.

Ironically, Dodong Flores received mixed criticism about his bicycle commuting. His so-called friends call it ridiculous. Unfortunately, in the Filipino standards with mentality that owning cars is the barometer of financial success, almost every average Filipino people look at it that those who cycle are economic and social failures. While cycling is already a very popular mode of transportation in the USA, Europe, and most advance countries, it is still a very unknown culture and lifestyle here in the Philippines. Others discouraged him by showing him the dangers posed by cycling to work. But Dodong Flores is determined to pursue with bike commuting. After all, it's not a new-found lifestyle for him. As Mr. Flores described himself in his website - bicycle had already put much influence in his life since when he was still very young.

While most Americans bike to work already wearing their neck ties, or Copenhagen girls bike with their fashionable clothing and stilettos on, this is not the case with Mr. Flores who is cycling in this tropical country like the Philippines. Instead, he dons his proper riding outfit for a more comfortable ride. He had to carry his office uniform, computer and other stuff in a back pack and move comfortably with his bike.

Dodong Flores on his way to work.

For Mr. Flores, cycling to work is not only about avoiding the rush and saving a fraction of his hard-earned allowance. Mr. Flores treats cycling as something spiritual. On pedaling, he stays focus and single-minded just the way Buddhists meditate. On weekend rides, cycling is his way of prayer and communion with nature. Dodong Flores also realized himself that cycling is therapeutic. He is more mentally alert nowadays and have reserved energy throughout the day as compared to when he commutes through public transport.

Dodong Flores in one of his daily commute.

An avid cyclist, Dodong Flores not only cycle to work but also cycle to places he has business dealings with. He cycles from his home in Pasig to SM Fairview, Valenzuela, Las Pinas, Manila, and just about any places he needs to go. "I would like to set an example that biking is a viable method of transportation," his short explanation.

Dodong Flores is advocating bicycle commuting and cycling as a healthy lifestyle. He is documenting some of his rides at www.bikelog.co.cc. He can be contacted through his website.

Advantages of cycling as found in the Internet:
http://www.cyclesandfitness.com/Advantages of Cycling.html
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/staff_groups/lubug/cyclingoncampus/cyclingoncampus/advantages.html
http://deepakmajipatil.blogspot.com/2007/07/advantages-of-cycling.html

All photos copyrighted by Ms. Jovelyn Wacay-Flores