video transcript

They're the latest and cleanest in two-wheeled technology. Byan McClelland is an avid cyclist, environmentalist and entrepreneur - and he's combined all three interests to create the "bambike" - short for bamboo bicycle, which is hitting the streets in the congested, but bamboo-rich Philippines. SOUNDBITE: Bryan McClelland, Bamb EcoLogical Technology, saying (English) "It's one of the greenest building materials on earth so bicycles built out of bamboo are more or less, you know, the greenest way to get around." Made from bamboo found throughout the country, the bikes are produced by a small team of skilled laborers from local villages. The bike frames are made entirely of cut and dried bamboo lumber, which McClelland says has a unique shock-absorbing quality that provides a sturdy, yet comfortable ride for the biker. Manila hemp fibers are wrapped around the lumber's joints, and sealed by a resin adhesive to form the bike's frame. From there, it's sent to the assembly line, where workers attach the few non-bamboo parts needed to complete the bike. SOUNDBITE: Bryan McClelland, Bamb EcoLogical Technology, saying (English) "Bamboo actually has the same tensile strength as steel and higher strength to weight ratio. So I've never broken a bike, and these frames really hold up." A standard bamboo bike frame costs between five and six hundred dollars, which McClelland says is cheaper than its typical metal counterpart. The bikes also reduce carbon emission footprints, although locals remain to be convinced. SOUNDBITE: Al Perez, professional cyclist, saying (Filipino and English) "How can bamboo be on par with carbon fiber and aluminium alloys? We very well know that bamboo is made out of wood, so I don't think so." SOUNDBITE: Pustilio Avisagri, pedicab driver, saying (Filipino) "Even using metal frames it could still easily break, what more if you use bamboo? But if there will be a lot more people interested in it, then it is possible that there would be an improvement in the material." McClelland is taking the criticism in stride, and is already working on plans to further reduce the pollutants in the bike's production. SOUNDBITE: Bryan McClelland, Bamb EcoLogical Technology, saying (English) "I think bamboo bikes could eventually start to replace a large amount of traditional bicycles in fact that it's creating jobs for the poor, the people who need them most, and it's a sustainable solution to transportation needs." Not to mention a revolution in biking.. and bamboo. Gemma Haines, Reuters.