Bamboo Bicycle Ride Crete for a Green Future

Overview

ESA is an official event partner for EU Green Week - Green Cities for a Greener Future. In collaboration with Biotic Bikes, Biolea and local municipalities of Crete, ESA is hosting a fun, educational event and the FIRST EVER Bamboo bike ride East to West of Crete.

Starting at Rethymnon, our Bamboo Bike Riders, Thomas Moench, founder of Biotic Bikes and his partner Sharon will set off and thereafter stop each day at the main towns of Georgioupoli, Vrysses, Vamos, Kalyves, Chania, Planatias, Tavronites and Kissamos. to meet the public. The final day of ‘Bamboo Bike Ride Crete’ will take our riders to the sunset at the West coast of Crete.

This is an inclusive, free event for everyone to join in and learn about the Circular Economy (CE) revolution and how everyone can be part of creating change and #MakeCretePlasticFree.

Many people believe that humanity being 'disconnected' from design and creation is a fundamental reason for a 'throwaway' attitude across the planet. Green transport challenges have triggered a growing interest in individually designed, hand-made ‘Bamboo Bicycles’ across Europe. What a perfect way to reconnect with what matters in creating a healthy, green future to live in through ‘design’ with ‘natural capital’ and at the same time reduce negative environmental impact.

Agenda

21st to 25th May: 3 handmade bamboo bikes arrive at the beautiful ESA off- grid, natural materials eco-building in the Natura 2000 location of Drapanos, Apokoronas.
They will be ridden from the historic and popular town of Rethymnon to the West coast of Crete for celebrations and events to raise awareness of the pressing eco issues in urban Crete. People will be encouraged to take ‘green action’ in their town by committing to taking practical action together to make healthier places to live.

Monday 21st May:
On Natura 2000 day at ESA Drapanos, an open day of workshops, games, films and seminars will ensure the bikes and the riders have a big send off! From 5pm everyone is welcome to learn about how bamboo bikes are made and to participate in an interactive brainstorming discussion about how other natural materials can be used to grow thriving, healthy Green Cities of the future.
Local government officials will showcase very exciting and encouraging NEW sustainability initiatives in the region to benefit the local community and the many visitors to Crete. This inclusive event to celebrate sustainability sets the scene for the grand start, 4-day bamboo bike ride East to West of Northern Crete.

Tuesday 22nd May:
Bamboo Bike Ride starts:
Rethymnon – Georgioupoli
Georgioupoli -Vrysses
Vryses-Vamos
Vamos-Armenoi with a celebration at The Olive Ranch

Wednesday 23rd May:
Kalives start at Piperia
Kalives – Chania at Salis and Mediterranean Centre for Architecture

Thursday 24th May:
Chania – Platanias
Platanias -Tavronites
Tavronites - Astrikas
17.00 Biolea Astrikas - A concert of fine music, played on instruments hand crafted from RECYCLED materials.

Friday 25th May: Kissamos - Falasarna to the sunset where our Bamboo Riders will cool their toes in the ocean, enjoy the pink sand and reflect on their amazing contribution to helping us to create greener places to live in Crete and #MakeCretePlasticFree
Exact times and locations will be published on the Bamboo Bike Ride -Crete FaceBook event page.

The EU is helping cities to become better places to live and work and EU Green Week showcases practical developments on air quality, noise, nature and biodiversity, waste and water management. The aim is to promote networking, sharing new ideas and best practices by engaging local authorities, organizations, and local citizens, and encouraging them to share their vision of a sustainable future. #MakeCretePlasticFree #EUGreenWeek.

RIDEYou can join the ride! Each day we welcome applications from suitably fit and healthy local bike riders who want to join Thomas and Sharon and be part of this historic event and join the ride for some or all the days.

DAY 1: Rethymnon to Kalives, 45 km with a climb to 222m
DAY 2: Kalives to Chania, 17.5 km with a climb to 150m
DAY 3: Chania to Astriaks, 32 km with a climb to 368 m
DAY 4: Astrikas to Kissamos and finally to the West Coast of Crete, 23km with a climb of 237m
Times and distances estimated from Google maps and subject to change.
If you would like to join the 'Ride Team' supporting our Bamboo Bike Riders please Contact Us and tell us which dates you can join us as one of the first ever 'Cretan Bamboo Bike Riders'. Or, if you would like to be part of our 'Event Team'.

EVENTS To follow the activities and news about our Bamboo Bike ride, register your interest on our FB event page and join in the discussions and ideas there.
Everyone is welcome to meet the Bamboo Riders at each town and see our exhibition of alternative to plastics. Every person signing a pledge to act towards reducing single use plastic will receive a FREE natural WHEAT STRAW for sipping cold drinks.
START EVENT: Monday 21st May, Natura 2000 day, at ESA Drapanos. A FREE event, from 5pm everyone is welcome
CELEBRATION OF SUSTAINABILITY: Thursday 24th May, join us at a celebration of sustainability and a Green Future at a concert hosted at the stunning location of Biolea cold press, organic olive oil, Astrikas Estate. Sip award winning Cretan wines and enjoy a magical experience of talented local musicians playing beautifully crafted instruments made from RECYCLED materials. Book your place FaceBook event.

Sponsorship

These Bamboo Bicycles are available as a participatory building workshop. Each frame is custom designed to your measurements. If you would like to ‘get connected with design and creation’ by building your own ‘Created in Crete’ Bamboo Bike, or sponsor Bamboo Bike building workshop, contact us for details.

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Post date: 14th March 2024.

What we do

Since 2012, ESA has delivered international, high calibre, leadership and management education, and consulting services, with a focus on the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are necessary to futureproof organisations and preserve the planet, through the practical application of sustainable business models.

The transition to a global green economy needs new; management skills, thinking, innovation and creativity which are rarely provided by mainstream business teaching. ESA founder Sharon Jackson has been consulting, teaching, lecturing and researching on sustainable leadership and management globally since 2000 and believes that busy executives can focus on the principles of business sustainability in a more meaningful and practical way when energised by a rich ecological backdrop.

Host your event at ESA

Powered only by Cretan sunshine, ESA is a beautiful building rooted in the earth amongst ancient rocks and olive trees, surrounded by nature. Its construction is a leading example of sustainability in practice. ESA is an experiential and creative place where people feel enlivened, uplifted and creative. Great living and great learning happen at ESA. A perfect setting for:

Leading sustainable enterprise

Our passion is contributing towards co-created sustainable enterprise for positive impact on communities and the natural environment on a global scale. Leadership and entrepreneur issues of adaptation, resilience, authenticity, sustainable-self, values connected sense-making and the continued emancipation of women (WISE) to take up more leadership roles in the world are at the core of the ESA sustainability experience.

Make sense of sustainability

Crete is the sustainable destination of the past and of the future.

Home of the Minoans, one of the earliest civilisations on earth, nestled between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Crete is rich with mythology, gastronomy, music, art and agriculture. You can have your own authentic experience of a sustainable lifestyle and feel first-hand the strong connection between nature and community.

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