On your bikes, Thailand!

ACTIVE CAMPUS Network – the brainchild of a day magazine and Coca-Cola Thailand – is now in its second year and has set itself the goal of expanding the bicycle culture to more campuses around the country.

“The Active Campus Network project has been successful in promoting a bicycle culture at several universities and they, in turn, have spread it to the communities. It is our aim to encourage both young people and Thais in general to enjoy a more active life, thus improving their health in the long term,” Nuntivat Thamhatai, public affairs and communications manager of |Coca-Cola Thailand, told participants at the recent press conference to launch the second year.

“For this second season, we are putting up Bt8 million to create three active lifestyle projects – Active Campus, Active Trainer and Active Thailand Tour. The more we move our bodies, the more happiness we get.”

 Bt1.2 million of the total funding will be awarded through 12 scholarships to help university cycling clubs create their bicycle project and encourage all students to use two wheels in daily life. Bt600,000 will be given to four selected universities to organise a bike activity for high school students under the “Active Trainer” component.

“We are promoting the bicycle culture among the new generation,” says Nuntivat. “For the Active Thailand Tour, we are cooperating with all universities in the project to set up 12 bike trips and convince more people to ride a bike.

“We will also reward the university with the best bike project and which gets the highest number of people to join the trip. The prize will be a trip to Singapore for a cycling event,” he adds.

“We are determined to select young people as the main representatives in building up the cycling social network. They are the important foundations of this project and are capable of strengthening the bike network through their creative thinking,” adds Zcongklod Bangyikhan, the magazine's editor-in-chief.

“Last year, more than 8,000 people participated in our project, riding an overall distance of 4.8 million kilometres, and burning 4.3 million calories. 

“If the bicycle culture grows, many more Thais will enjoy good health. I believe that the power of bicycles can make our world more liveable.”

The press conference opened with an extreme bike show then segued to a talk by actor and actress Puwadon “James” Vejvongsa and Kemisara “Belle” Paladesh. Actor Suriyon “Deaw” Aroonwattanakul served as emcee.

The second Active Campus Network project is now inviting students between the ages of 18 and 25 and who are members of their university cycling club to create a bicycle project for high school students and receive one of four scholarships worth Bt150,000 together with 20 bicycles.

“We will evaluate projects |based on the number of participants and their level of satisfaction. Members of the |public can also join the bike trip |in Singapore by accumulating maximum mileage. There will be just two winners,” says Changnoi Kunchorn Na Ayuthaya, the magazine’s marketing director.

 

Pedal to Win

 

- Follow the Active Campus Network at www.ActiveCampusNetwork.org