globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Bicycle Economy May is National Bike Month


Sustainable Future LOHAS Provides Blueprint for Strong Businesses


Approximately 19 percent of U.S. adults, or 41 million consumers, are part of the Lifestyles of Health and Sus- tainability (LOHAS) demographic that eco- and health-conscious companies and entrepreneurs seek to do busi- ness with. Two 2011 LOHAS confer- ences will bring these business owners together to network, share information, and inspire a sustainable future for the world. As they reinvent and reposition themselves in the evolving market- place, these business people maintain a pivotal triple-bottom line principle of people, planet and profit.


The first regional conference will be held at the University of Minnesota, in Minneapolis, on May 12. Then, the annual LOHAS Forum 2011 will take place in Boulder, Colorado, from June 22 to 24. Topics will revolve around holistically serving the estimated $290 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services related to health, the environ- ment, social justice, personal develop- ment and sustainable living. Executive Director Ted Ning com-


ments: “LOHAS consumers are the early adopters of society and are the educators of family and friends. They are always pushing for the next best thing. Once something becomes inte- grated they seek and push for the next innovation. For example, hybrid cars were a big push five years ago; now it is electric vehicles. As society evolves, so do they; thus they are always on the cutting edge of what is next.” One telling result: “Now you can’t open a magazine or turn on the TV without seeing some sort of LOHAS- oriented ad.” To register, visit lohas.com/ forum. For an interview with Ted Ning, see tinyurl.com/4f6meeh.


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Bikeway networks are emerging along urban, low-traffic streets as residents employ increasing pedal power in cities like Cambridge, Massachusetts; New York City; Portland, Oregon; and San Francisco. Tourism and trans- portation trend watchers note that the amount of on-street bicycle parking provides a ready gauge to how rider- friendly a city is.


Still, according to the findings of a National


Household Travel Survey that 40 percent of all trips we make are two miles or less, the International Bicycle Fund (IBF) reports that Americans choose a bike over a car for only 11 percent of these trips. In Europe, which favors walkable cities, Am- sterdam commuters lead the way by choosing their bikes 28 percent of the time, followed by 20 percent in Denmark, 10 percent in Germany, 8 percent in the United Kingdom and 5 percent in both France and Italy (versus 1 percent by U.S. city commuters).


According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, at least a quarter of Americans age 16 and older will likely ride a bicycle sometime this summer. The National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes notes that 26 percent of American bicyclists ride for recreation, and 24 percent for health. Additional rea- sons include getting home (14 percent), errands (14 percent), visiting (10 percent), commuting to school or work (5 percent) and “other.”


BikeLeague.org, the official website for Bike-to-Work Week, May 16-20, hosts a searchable database of bike clubs and ride resources.


Urban Forest Tree Banner Design Contests Sprout in U.S. Cities


Banners created by local designers, artists and students are appearing on light posts at high-traffic locations through- out cities participating in the Urban Forest Project. Each banner’s design must be a metaphor for the tree, a symbol of sustainability, and a visual statement about valuing the environment.


Originally conceived by Worldstudio to promote going green and bring life to light posts in New York City’s Times Square in 2006, the project has taken root in Albuquerque, Baltimore, Denver, Portland, Oregon, and Toledo, Ohio. New, colorfully eco-conscious tree banners will be sprouting


this spring in San Francisco, Tacoma, Washington, and Washington, D.C. “We anticipate the artwork and banners… will act as a visual awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy canopy in not only our city, but throughout the world,” says Adrian M. Fenty, former mayor of the District of Columbia. After they were removed from Times Square, the banners were recycled into one-of-a-kind tote bags, with sales proceeds going to mentoring programs and the creative arts in New York City. Initially, “That was supposed to be the end of the story, except the project apparently had resonance with a lot of people from differ- ent communities,” says Andréa Pellegrino of Worldstudio. “We started receiving unsolicited outreach from communities all over the world.”


Learn more at ufp-global.com. East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com


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