#cycle more

Let’s Ride by Josh Higgins

Josh Higgins built and led the design team behind Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign and is now Communication Design Manager for Facebook. Using fresh colours and geometrical shapes, his poster rallies the world to do more bike riding and less driving.

"I have always loved cycling and rode a bike since age 6 because it is fun," says Josh. "Now I am a bit older I realize it is so much more. Riding a bike is a proven stress releaser. It is great for our environment and whether you are riding purely for pleasure or to get from point A to point B, you will arrive feeling relaxed, energized and happier about the world."

Why?

Despite Portland holding the title of America’s Most Bike Friendly City, only 6% of commuters go on bike - a figure slightly overshadowed by the 43% that cycle to work in Amsterdam. Some places are miles better for bikers, so if you want to be greener, feel richer, live longer, why not play with the idea of setting up on another city?

How?

American road trips don’t have to be about blistering down Route 66 in a red open-top mustang. Here are 25 incredible road trips you can make on two wheels.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

Better By Bike by Sir Paul Smith 

Today we are delighted to present a poster from a man who needs no introduction, but that won’t stop us from introducing him anyway. Sir Paul Smith is one of the most admired figures in the world of fashion: a style guru, a gentleman and a mad keen cyclist. He has created a piece of heartfelt pro-pedal propaganda featuring one of his own cycles and a message in his own writing: “it’s better by bike". We agree.

Why? 

On a bike, you can travel up to 1037 kilometres on the energy equivalent of a litre of petrol? That’s right, up to 1037km. Cycling is the most efficient way of getting from A to B without all the CO2. 

How? 

For daily information and inspiration around all things to do with cycling, follow these influential spokespeople on Twitter:

@citycyclists @sustrans @artcrank @london_cycling @CycleHatred @_Cycle_chic

But don’t just follow them, follow their passion and get on a bike.

Join the rest of the world in switching off your lights for Earth Hour this Saturday at 8:30 pm.

Dear Grandpa by Tom Uglow 1/29

Google Creative Lab’s Tom Uglow kicks off our countdown to WWF’s Earth Hour 2014 with, appropriately, a panda. He uses the panda bear as a reminder that many of us will have grandchildren, grandchildren that will have to live with the consequences of the gas-guzzling generations that came before.

“I chose public transport because I think it was the right choice when society made the wrong one," said Tom. "Henry Ford apparently said that if he'd asked us what he wanted (when he was inventing the car) we'd have said faster horses. But it doesn't make the car the right answer, the right answer is "better buses" or "trains" or even Segways. 

Communal, vibrant, social transport that is good for the environment and good for humans rather than covering the planet in tarmac and incarcerating billions of people in solitary plastic boxes for hours each day. It's inhumane and it should be abolished.”

“I'm supporting DTGT and Earth Hour because I think it is amazing that DTGT are finding new ways to remind people that we all get to make choices, every day, that affect the environment and our future.”

Why?

It’s not just future generations that will suffer from our car cravings. Around 200,000 premature deaths occur each year due to air pollution - in the US alone - with the highest contributor being car emissions.

How?

It’s as easy as leaving your car at home and hopping aboard a bus. It may take a few minutes more to get to the bus stop, but you’ll be helping to make the air cleaner for future little lungs.

Join the world’s biggest celebration of our brilliant planet and sign up for Earth Hour on 29 March at 8.30 pm.