Cycle News Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Get cash from Shimano

Got an idea on how to increase cycle-use? Get cash from Shimano
Twelve and a half thousand Euros are up for grabs in the fifth annual staging of the Shimano Cycling Concept Award, a pan-European competition to find projects that stimulate increased bicycle use. The competition opens today and closes on December 31st.
"Experience shows that there are a lot of good ideas among bicycle enthusiasts that just need an extra financial impulse to become reality," said Harold Troost, Shimano Europe's PR officer.

The winner of the Shimano Cycling Concept Award 2005 will be rewarded with a project-supporting 12 500 Euros, about £8500.

"Any ideas or projects that would increase bicycling usage of all types can be submitted, from cycle commuting, to hard-core mountain biking. The only condition is that the winning project should be carried out within one year after the award ceremony," said Troost.

The idea should be described in English and can be supported with drawings and photographs.

"The best entries from previous years have been those that set out action plans with a clear time line, show how and when the money will be spent, list the total budget and include a summary of no more than 500 words," said Troost.

As in previous years, the jury will consist of three trade magazine editors: Jack Oortwijn (Bike Europe, http://www.bike-eu.com), Carlton Reid (Bicycle Business, http://www.bikebiz.com) and Michael Bollschweiler (Radmarkt, http://www.radmarkt.de) as well as Frank Peiffer of Shimano Europe.

The winner will be announced in February 2005.

The SCCA had two winners in 2004, splitting the cash award.

The Institut für Verkehrspädagogik (Institute for Transport Education) in Graz, Austri, extended a bicycle training programme for children using in a real traffic environment. The Rowley Regis and Tipton primary trust from West
Bromwich, UK, used the SCCA prize money to recruit and train 15 cycling instructors, and kit them out with tools, branded tabards and first aid kits. The trainers then gave one-on-one bicycle training session to adults referred by their doctor for physical activity. The trainers have also started to deliver training at local secondary schools.

All entries for SCCA 2005 should be sent to:
Harald Troost
Shimano Europe B.V.
Industrieweg 24
8071 CT Nunspeet
The Netherlands

(Source: http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=4717)