Bamboo Bicycles and Flores’ Natural Wealth

The bamboo bicycle is one of the souvenirs for ASEAN leaders attending the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. It is hoped that bamboo bicycles from Flores will become more global.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Bicycles made of bamboo are exhibited at an exhibition of MSME products at the Batu Cermin Cave tourist object complex, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (6/5/2023). The bamboo bicycle will be one of the souvenirs given to heads of state attending the 42nd ASEAN Summit.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” This popular quote from Albert Einstein lends bicycles a special place in a clear illustration of life.

Today, cycling has become a lifestyle choice and even a necessity of life in relation to maintaining fitness. Bicycles are also enjoying a place in the series of programs being held as part of the ASEAN Summit on 9-11 May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The bicycles meant here specifically refer to those with bamboo frames.

Previously, bamboo bicycles in the country grew in popularity when President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo invited Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ride a bamboo bicycle at Bogor Palace in West Java on 6 June 2022. The two leaders cycled from the palace to Resto Raasaa at the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

“[It’s] because the weather is fine and cycling is environmentally friendly. I think we should start conveying the message of how important environmentally friendly vehicles are,” President Jokowi said at Resto Raasaa.

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On that occasion, President Jokowi presented Prime Minister Albanese with a bamboo bicycle to take home to Australia. Several months later, on 15 Jan. 2023, President Jokowi rode his bamboo bicycle from Merdeka Palace to the designated area of the Car Free Day on Jl. Sudirman-Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

According to NTT Handicraft Council chairwoman Julie Laiskodat, bamboo bicycles are also intended to be presented as souvenirs for ASEAN leaders following the summit in Labuan Bajo.

During a meeting at the Batu Cermin exhibition venue, Bambu Lingkungan Lestari Foundation chairwoman Monica Tanuhandaru said the foundation was interested in using bamboo from Flores. Giving bamboo bicycles as souvenirs to ASEAN leaders could elevate the prized regional products to a higher stage.

“We say that we are supporting ASEAN green mobility. We encourage the cities in ASEAN countries to be friendly to cyclists. Later in September, we will start the Let’s Cycle to School campaign,” said Monica.

ISTIMEWA/BPMI SETPRES

President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) cycling together at the Bogor Palace complex, West Java, June (6/6/2022).

Seven world producers

She said there were seven bamboo bicycle producers in the world today. “In the United States, they are [located] in Denver and California. In addition, there are others in Portugal, Germany, Britain, Ghana and Indonesia,” Monica said.

As for their capacity to cover long distances, Spedagi brand representative Wisli Sagara related that he had previously ridden a bamboo bicycle from Kilometer 0 in Sabang to Jakarta. He also once rode a bamboo bicycle from Jakarta to Bajawa, a distance of 2,100 kilometers. This August, Wisli will be joining the oldest cycling tour in France, covering 1,200 kilometers on a bamboo bicycle.

According to Wisli, the advantages of bamboo bicycle are their softness and flexibility.

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“They weigh about the same as [metal frame] bicycles. This is because they are not made from hollow bamboo tubes, but solid bamboo. They are split bamboo lengths that are fitted together, toughened and then shaped [lathed],” he said.

Monica revealed that her foundation had cultivated 3.5 million bamboo seedlings during the Covid-19 pandemic. These seedlings were later planted in several regions.

Juruslan Rangga Ndima, a bamboo planting coordinator in Nagekeo regency, said that in 2021-2022, his institution had planted around 337,000 seedlings on 650 hectares of critical land, including riverbanks.

“We work with all elements of the community. So, the seedlings were made available and we invited them to plant while campaigning for climate change adaptation and protecting springs,” he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

The Executive Director of the Sustainable Bamboo Foundation Monica Tanuhandaru shows off a bamboo bicycle at the MHM product exhibition at the Batu Cermin Cave tourist object complex, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Saturday (6/5/2023).

Juruslan added that after planting the 337,000 seedlings in 2021-2022, 56,000 more seedlings would be planted this year. “We take the group approach. This year, there are around 12 villages with one group each. In 2021-2022, there were 16 villages,” he said.

While planting bamboo, the local people were also introduced to the benefits of bamboo as a material for making textiles and bicycles. They had been very enthusiastic. “[This is] because of the close ties to bamboo among the Nagekeo people and in general, the Flores community. Apart from its importance in absorbing water, bamboo is always present in traditional activities,” said Juruslan.

What was new to the local people, noted Juruslan, was when they were introduced to the greater advantages bamboo presented through innovation, such as using bamboo as material for building bicycle frames.

In this way, Flores will become even better known for its diverse natural wealth.

Kompas tried out a mini velo at the Batu Cermin exhibition in Labuan Bajo. It was almost as fast as bicycles made from other materials. It was relatively lighter. There was some doubt about the strength of the bicycle made of 50 percent bamboo frames. After riding several circuits, it was convinced that the bamboo bike could sustain a rider’s weight.

Erlin Meo from Turetogo Bamboo Campus in Ngada regency said bambupetung (Dendrocalamus asper) was strong enough for building bicycle frames. As evidence, the local community has used bambupetung for years to construct buildings.

It is this strength that is one of the reasons for using this species of bamboo to make bicycle frames. At around four years, the bamboo is cut and split, and then shipped to Temanggung, Central Java, to be made into bicycle frames.

When the manufactured bicycles are shipped to other countries, they are expected to be accompanied by information on their history, including the source of bamboo. In this way, Flores will become even better known for its diverse natural wealth.

This article was translated by Aris Prawira.