Regular readers and friends know that I depend upon my bicycles (3 of them) for basic transportation as well as recreation and competition.

On the flip side, I depend upon regular readers for grist for much of what I write about in the Carbon Neutral Journal.

My friend Dan recently discovered the International Bicycle Fund's website (ibike) while doing some research for a local non-profit that is putting on a bike to work day in June. He suggested I take a look at it, and I really like what I found.

The International Bicycle Fund is a non-governmental, nonprofit, advocacy organization, promoting sustainable transport and international understanding. Major areas of activity are non-motorized urban planning, economic development, bike safety education, responsible travel and bicycle tourism, and cross-cultural, educational programs.

It was the mention of cross-cultural educational programs that led me to a page on program philosophy, where I found the following definition of ibike's point of view on "ecotourism."

We rarely use the term ecotourism in any of our publicity. We have long been uncomfortable with the term because it has been used to embrace ANY travel that includes "nature" — getting out of a city — even when getting there by a gas guzzling SUV (sport-utility vehicle or four-wheel drive) and ripping up the savannah in the process.

As an alternative we try to practice what we have come to call "E³ Programs"; environmentally friendly (using primarily non-motorized transport, but reflecting all aspects of the projects including printing, selection of energy efficient lodging and local produced food and goods), economically beneficial (supporting the decentralized, indigenous economy, including local produced food and goods) and educational/enriching (exploring the diversity and complexity of the local natural and human ecosystem.)

The ibike site is chock full of thoughtful trip planning information. It even has a lengthy page titled Responsible Travel Program Design Criteria.

All in all, I found ibike to be a thought provoking website–even if you're not looking for or planning a bicycle trip.  Thanks for the tip, Dan!

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