Specialty Tours: Cultural Bike Programs &
Cycle Touring / Multi-day Fundraising Rides /
Charity Rides / Bike-a-thons /
Pedaling for Peace and Social Justice
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These tours heighten awareness and understanding of cultural, environment and economic conditions. And, fundraise to help cure diseases, have healthier body parts, do public education and serve the afflicted. Many of the events are annual, so if you missed it this year you might still have an opportunity to participate in the future. The listing of an event does not constitute an endorsement by the International Bicycle Fund. Bike festivals and one-day fund-raising bike rides / tours are listed on the events calendar page.
* To prevent email harvesting the email addresses in this directory are un-hyperlinked and have an extra space in them. To contact an organization you will need to cut-and-paste the address and delete the space before the @ symbol. For those of you with honorable intentions we are sorry for the inconvenience in communicating with these fine organizations.
Beware of Eco-Hypocrisy Tours
Several major international environment organizations and "eco-tour"
operators with worldwide trekking, canoeing and biking programs offers astonishing
"non-eco", resource intensive van tours (particularly in Africa.) You
don't have to leave your environmental ethics at home or tear-up someone else
environment to visit it. We would love to show you
information on responsible travel (PDF),
responsible
tourism and environmental tips
(PDF) for travelers.
"Service programs" can have their own short-comings: There is a common proverb "If you GIVE someone a fish and they eat for a day. If you TEACH them to fish they eat for a lifetime." When you look at service programs and ask yourself, "Why aren't the local people building the latrine (clinic, well, market, fill-in-the-blank)?" It is rarely because everyone locally is already fully employed. What is the context and the dynamic of these programs? Who is really benefiting? [Hint: follow the money.]
Bicycle Africa
Bicycle Africa provides an opportunity for Westerners to learn more about Africa
at a person-to-person level not usually available to tourists. All programs are small
groups, self-contained bicycle explorations. Each program is unique and highlights the diversity of the
culture, social institutions and environment, and the complexity of the history, economy
and society. For information contact: Bicycle Africa, 4887 Columbia Dr. S., Seattle WA
98108 USA. Tel/Fax: 1-206-767-0848. Email: ibike @ibike.org *.
Bicycle Trek for Life &
Breath
A two-day, 200-kilometre ride through the scenic Fraser Valley, September,
to raise money to fight lung disease.. For more information: check the website,
or in
Vancouver call 604-731-5864. Outside the Lower Mainland call: 1-800-665-5864
toll-free. E-mail: trek @bc.lung.ca * (Nov 2005)
Bike-Aid
An annual June-July trans-America that combines political
education, community living, service learning, and fundraising into an
unforgettable summer experience. For more information email kien @globalexchange.org *, or call 1-800-RIDE-808 or 415-255-7296 (Nov 2005)
Cuba People-to-People Program
An opportunity for Northerners to learn more about Mesoamerica at a
person-to-person level not usually available to tourists. All programs are small groups,
self-contained bicycle programs. Each is unique and highlights the diversity of the culture,
social institutions and environment, and the complexity of the history, economy and
society. For information contact: Atenas de Cuba, c/o International Bicycle Fund, 4887
Columbia Dr. S., Seattle WA 98108 USA. Tel/Fax: 1-206-767-0848. Email: ibike @ibike.org *.
Empire State AIDS Ride
A 500-mile, fundraising bicycle ride, from Niagara Falls to Battery Park, in August. (Nov 2005)
Escape to
the Cape!
The American Lung Association's Annual Autumn Escape Bike Trek,
September, is a 3-day 160-mile bike trek from Plymouth to Provincetown (MA) through the scenic back roads and
bike paths of coastal Cape Cod. For more
information call 1-508-668-6729 or email biketrek @ala-ma.org *.
(2005)
Hunger Cycling Safari
Charity Cycling Stage Race in Kenya and
Tanzania by
Community Aid International (CAI), a non-governmental organization (NGO) in
Kenya, in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), a UN agency with a
mandate on food aid, together with other NGOs in Kenya, are organizing an annual
cycling event, February 18th to 27th 2007, to raise funds
for a programme on elimination of Child Hunger in the region and Africa.
For more information contact, cai @africaonline.co.ke *.
(July 2006)
Heart to Heart Charity Ride
The Thailand Cycling
Club (TCC) is organizing the 2nd Heart to Heart Charity Ride
during April 13-20, a ride from Narathiwat, in the South of Thailand, to
Bangkok, with a total distance of over 1,200 km. During this Charity Ride funds
will be raised for the “Thai Elephant Fund”, a project of the Thailand
Environment Institute. For more information about the Heart to Heart
Charity Ride, as well as the “Thai Elephant Fund” click on the
link or contact Thailand Cycling Club. Email: tpanswad @hotmail.com * or bobusher @ksc.th.com *. (2003)
Ibike Tours
For those who already love the Pacific Northwest and for those who have never been there, the International Bicycle Fund is offering
"Rolling the Islands of the Salish Sea" (Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands and
Canadian Gulf Islands), a fascinating two-week exploration of this multicultural region like no other. The programs highlight the rich cultural heritage and history, the geographical and environmental diversity, and the mosaic of economic, geological, cultural and historical complexity of Swatixwtuhd (Lushootseed for
the "earth"). Program participants have opportunities to: meet Suquamish, Swinomish and other indigenous people; learn how the Hawaiian were early foreign traders here, the Chinese built the infrastructure, the Japanese fed the people and other ethnic groups transformed the land. We will visit local markets, wander in historic sites and to enjoy the extraordinary friendliness of the people and inspirational beauty of the Swatixwtuhd. The rich cultural history of the Northwest is a virtually undiscovered treasure. Specialists in cross-cultural programs guide the
group. For information contact: Ibike Tours, 4887
Columbia Dr. S., Seattle WA 98108 USA. Tel/Fax: 1-206-767-0848. Email: ibike @ibike.org *.
Janadesh Cycle Tour
On January 12th, 2007, 15 youth will begin a
3 month journey of 2000 km from Kanyakumari to Gwalior. The Janadesh Cycle Tour will be
spreading the message of Janadesh and carrying the spirit of non-violence to
every community that it touches. Foreign participation is invited for all
or any part of the tour. For more information contact at janadeshcycleyatra @rediffmail.com *
Jewish Environmental Bike Ride
The purpose of the Ride is to raise environmental awareness in the Jewish
community, to raise money for Jewish environmental projects, to bring people
together across differences of age and background and also, simply, to have a
good time. Rides attracted riders aged 12 to 69, of every
denomination and none. For more information visit the
website, email info @hazon.org * or
telephone 212-685-7908. (2006)
Journey of Hope to Beat Cancer
Travel the byroads of Israel in springtime ( April 26 - May 4, 2007). Choice of short and long distance routes for all levels of
riders. Donations benefit the Davidoff Cancer Center at Rabin Medical Center,
Israel’s premier medical facility in Petah Tikvah. Minimum trip
sponsorship is $3600 plus registration fee. Price includes all air, food and
accommodations for bike ride. Sponsored donations are tax-deductible. Bring your
own bike or rental bikes available in Israel. Trip extensions possible. If you cannot be
with us, sponsor a rider by pledging dollars for miles. Early registration
required. Contact: AFRMC 212-279-2522 or
www.afrmc.org/bikeathon. American Friends of Rabin Medical Center, 220 Fifth Avenue Suite 1301, NY, NY 10001
Leukemia Society Teams-in-Training
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In
Training (TNT) is the largest endurance sports training program in the world.
(2005)
Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative
Fundraising bike tour July 1-7, 2006, in Denmark. Sarcoma is a rare and
dangerous cancer in adults (about 1% of adult cancers are sarcomas) but it is
more prevalent in children (between 15-20% of all children’s cancers are
sarcomas). Bike from the Danish peninsula Jutland to Copenhagen, enjoying the
beautiful countryside and villages on the islands of Fyn, Tåsinge, Langeland,
Møn, and Zealand along the way, visit Valdemar’s Castle, take an evening sail on
an old wooden Danish sailing ship, enjoy a guided tour of Faaborg, tour the
white cliffs of Møn, visit Legoland and Tivoli; accommodations for 7 nights, all
breakfasts, all dinners and six lunches are included in the price as well as
bike and helmet rental, bus and ferry rides as required, daily luggage and bike
transport, sag wagons, and water stops are included in price. (Nov 2005)
MS 150
The MS 150® is a two-day non-competitive cycling adventure that challenges
riders of all ages, levels and abilities. The purpose of the tour is to raise
money to fight the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) and increase
awareness of MS symptoms and the important new treatments now available. (Nov 2005)
Nujiang Preservation Project Cycle Eco-tour
The Nujiang Preservation Project is dedicated to preserve a great
pristine place in Northwest Yunnan, People's Republic of China, where there is
the last unspoiled River, the Nujiang River or Upper Salween. There is only one
main road of nearly 400km that goes from the south to the north dead ending 30 k
from Tibet in the Shangri-la of Bingzhongluo. It is an ideal road for Cycling
and we are planning 10 day Cycling Eco-tours all winter long from December
1 to April 1, 2005. For more information please contact at
whitepearl @gci-net.com *.
Paradise Ride Hawaii
Contact
Malama Pono Kauai AIDS Project
for information on future events. (2004)
Pilgrims of Peace
A global peace pilgrimage on bicycles along with other peace pilgrims
(belonging to different nations and faiths). (Dec 2005)
Ride for a Reason
"to ride our bikes, raising funds in support of wide-ranging
efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
Every dollar raised goes directly to regional and
global efforts to defeat AIDS.. E-mail: rideforareason @yahoo.com *.
(2003)
Tour de Thailand
Charity Bicycle Ride from
Chiang Mai, Thailand to Phuket, Thailand. Riders can participate for 1, 2, 3, or
all 4 weeks of the Tour. For further information, please
contact: Mr. Christopher Byrd. Email: chris @tourdethailand.com *.
Phone: +661 173 4469. (Jan 2008)
Sustainability Energy In Motion Bike Tour
Meet incredible
people. Stay on organic farms and support sustainable agriculture. Stand in
solidarity with indigenous people. Learn how to live with the land. Change the
world, one mile at a time. Organized by the Portland Peace and
Justice Center. (June 2006)
Wheels Across the Desert
Could be the bike ride of a lifetime - starting from the bustling,
historical and spiritual heart of Israel, Jerusalem, riding south to the
magnificent crater surrounding the town of Mitzpeh Ramon, along lightly
travelled Negev desert roads and finally ending up in Eilat, Israel's popular
Red Sea resort. It's a 450 kilometre cycling adventure, Tuesday May 9th, to
Tuesday May 16th, 2006, sponsored by two environmental organizations, the Arava
Institute and Hazon. For application procedures and information on the bike ride, visit
www.bikeforarava.org. (March 2006)
Eco-Friends Bicycle Tour
The Goa Association For Education and Development (GAED) is promoting bicycling,
eco-tourism and environmental awareness with Eco-Friends Bicycle Tours. Tours are
scheduled for once or twice a year in Goa State, India. Participation is open to 15 youth
from India and 10 people from foreign countries. The route travels through more than 30
villages, covering 385 km, 240 miles, in 7 days. Goa is noted for its attractive beaches,
silent rivers, green hills and plains, churches and temples, and famous architecture,
feasts and festivals. For information write to: Sanjay Gawas, GAED, PO Box 1044, GPO Vasco
da Gama, Goa - 403 803 India. (1995)
Comment On 'Overland' Tours
A bicycle traveler summed up his experience with truck 'Overlanders' in Africa this way:
"Trucks carrying about two dozen travelers from Europe or Australia. When an 'O' pulls up at a camp site the inmates emerge like commandos and erect a barracks of tents in seconds. Arc lights, stoves and utensils protrude from the lorry's side like cannon from a battleship. Our little fire looks feeble."
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The International Bicycle Fund is an independent, non-profit organization. Its primary purpose is to promote bicycle transportation. Most IBF projects and activities fall into one of four categories: planning and engineering, safety education, economic development assistance and promoting international understanding. IBF's objective is to create a sustainable, people-friendly environment by creating opportunities of the highest practicable quality for bicycle transportation. IBF is funded by private donation. Contributions are always welcome and are U.S. tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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