A NEW and unique museum will open its doors to the public in tonight’s Gabii sa Kabilin.
The Museum of Bicycling is a distinct twist for it houses bicycles and its different uses aside from a means of transportation. It is the first in Cebu and even in the Philippines.
Located at Elicon House at the corner of Junquera and P. del Rosario Sts., Cebu City, the museum has four rooms and each has different category depending on the usage of bikes.
“If you check on the internet, there’s nothing [museum of bicycling] in the Philippines. It’s all over USA and Europe but not in the Philippines,” said Johanna Estremos, human resource and communications officer of Mayflower Realty Inc., which owns Elicon.
Based on the way of usage, the bikes are categorized as alternative transport, social equality, women empowerment, creativity and culture, family and community bonding, health and wellness, sports and recreation, tourism, appropriate technology, and entrepreneurship.
She said that inside the museum is a collection of bicycles, photos, artworks, and information that “show the importance, practicality, and versatility of bicycling.” Some bicycles are from the management, others are donated by cyclists, while others are especially constructed for the museum.
This museum is inspired by the advocacy of the owners on bicycle as a sustainable transportation. Their group is also behind Tindak Sugbo, an earth-hour bike ride, and the bike lane ordinance that was passed two years ago.
The museum does not only exhibit bicycles for sustainable transportation, it also features uses of bikes that would maximize its capacities.
For example, one will see a bike grinder and blender, which are useful to mobile vendors.
The museum also has a bamboo bike that is originally made in the Philippines.
Among the museum’s attractions is that visitors can try the unicycle. Activities during this one special night, include bike sculpting, bike sing-a-long, and self-portrait with a bike.