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local Friday 28 OctOber 2022
Cyclists activity to bring awareness in the community
ORANJESTAD – Yesterday ber at ex-Bushiri Hotel from
morning, IBiSA held a press 6am to 12pm covering a
conference to present in- distance of 50km. “A long
formation regarding a Bike distance, and this is the rea-
to bring awareness in the son to do this for the mem-
community regarding the ber clubs. This is not going
risks cyclists face when to be open for everyone,
training or competing on but only those who have a
public roads. bike and can cycle a long
distance. This is important
Gelisa Angela, representa- to know”, Erasmus said.
tive and member of Biking The long distance was cho-
Squad Aruba explained sen because they want
that this foundation was to ride through every dis-
established about two trict and neighborhood of
years ago by Rubert Paesh, Aruba in order to bring the
with the goal of improving message to everyone.
health, riding and having
fun. They have space for 500
Currently they have about ness”, Angela commented. using the road, so that both pening to cyclists or other participants 15 years and
50 members, and every can be aware of safety people who use the streets. older, which means that it
week most of them are ac- Edgar Erasmus from IBiSA in traffic, to respect each will be a large group taking
tive, training at different declared that the bike ride other. The goal is also for IBiSA is helping with the to the road. “And for this
parts of the island, since has the goal of bringing dog owners to make sure process of organization of reason we as IBiSA ask for
most of them have road awareness to motorists, but to keep their dogs inside this activity which will take motorists to be mindful on
bikes to use on the roads also cyclists when they are to prevent anything hap- place on the 6th of Novem- this day, that a large group
and reach trails and mondi. of cyclists will be on the
road”, Erasmus said. He also
Similarly there are other or- indicated that they have a
ganizations that also prac- permit for this activity and
tice and train, particularly will count with help from
when there are upcoming the Police Department and
competitions. But sadly, the Red Cross. Each club is
according to Angela, they responsible for their mem-
have noticed that recently bers, Erasmus said, which
there are a lot of accidents means that if they get tired
in Aruba with cars hitting they will be taken care of.
cyclists, dogs coming out
and attacking and biting Erasmus announced that
the cyclists, and causing next week they will be
physical and emotional publishing different videos
damage. on social media and their
website, as well as visiting
For this reason they came radio stations to bring the
with the initiative to have message of awareness to
an awareness Bike Tour the community the entire
Ride and for this they ap- week.
proached the minister of
Sport, Mr. Endy Croes as Minister of Education and
well as minister of Transport, Sport, Mr. Endy Croes was
Nature, Integrity and Senior also present at the press
Affairs, Mr. Ursell Arends to conference. He said that a
discuss how together with few months ago he was ap-
IBiSA, the Department of proached by the leader of
Public Health (DVG) and Biking Squad Aruba, Rubert
the ministry of Sport to get Paesh and the board. They
this activity going for the told the minister of their ex-
6th of November. perience when cycling on
“We understand the com- the road during training
ments of drivers saying that and how many incidents
there are disrespectful cy- take place. He decided to
clists, but we must say that bring IBiSA on board to or-
sadly the respect that we ganize this activity, which
do not receive is a lot more took more than a month of
among the motorists, par- preparation.
ticularly when we are on
the road. They don’t give IBiSA is also preparing an-
us enough space and you other Bike Tour for the 18th
need to see to pull all the of November at the Sports
way to the side for them Center in San Nicolas with
not to hit you. This is why a shorter route, where more
we need to create aware- people can participate.q
