The Brita Climate Ride will return for its second year this September, and registration is now open to 250 cyclists. This "climate conference on wheels" and fundraiser is designed to raise awareness of climate change and renewable energy. This year's event will take place September 26-30, 2009, and will once again see hundreds of cyclists pedal beautiful country roads from New York City to Washington, DC. Participants can currently register online at http://www.climateride.org.
Caeli Quinn, co-founder and director of Climate Ride, said the ride is a positive way for people to express their concern about climate change. "With the COP15 Climate Conference around the corner, we need to see a significant commitment to dealing with climate change and increasing renewable energy options in the U.S.," Quinn said. "This year's Climate Ride will see hundreds of riders, backed by the thousands of people who sponsored them and made this historic journey possible."
Last year, on September 24th, 2008, during Brita Climate Ride 2008, more than 100 exuberant cyclists rode en masse to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. This was the thrilling end to a 300-mile bike ride that began in the heart of New York City and meandered through beautiful countryside in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
Each evening, expert speakers met with Climate Riders to discuss the science, policies and issues surrounding climate change and renewable energy. Upon the Climate Riders' triumphant arrival in Washington D.C., they had the opportunity to meet personally with their senators and representatives.
This year's event raises funds for three hardworking non-profits, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (DC), Clean Air-Cool Planet (Connecticut) and Focus the Nation (Oregon). Climate Ride is the first multi-day, multi-city bicycle ride to address climate change and renewable energy issues. Climate Ride also endeavors to show that the bicycle is the ultimate carbon-free machine and a viable form of transportation.
Climate Ride is especially unique because of its expert speaker series, says co-founder and director, Geraldine Carter. "This is the first climate conference on wheels. Our riders pedal all day and then have the opportunity to hear from some the brightest minds in climate change and renewable energy in the evening. Our riders finish Climate Ride with an in-depth understanding of climate issues and are inspired to rally friends and family to help resolve the most important issue facing humanity."
Brita Climate Ride is the first bicycle tour where pedal strokes help raise money and awareness of climate change and hope for a future powered by renewable energy and a green economy. The ride offers people who share a passion for green living and cycling a chance to journey toward making a difference. Like the Climate Riders, Brita, once again the title sponsor, is dedicated to making the Earth a greener place. Thanks to Brita, there won't be any empty bottled water containers along the route; the riders are supplied with Brita filtered water in special FilterForGood bike bottles. Each Climate Rider fundraises at least $ 2,400 to participate in Climate Ride 2009.
About Climate Ride
The Climate Ride organization was founded by Caeli Quinn, 33, (Whitefish, MT) and Geraldine Carter, 33, (Missoula, MT) to raise money for innovative organizations that are working to educate Americans about the impacts of climate change and engage them in the possibility of a renewable energy-based economy, and to mobilize politicians to enact meaningful climate change and energy policies. In 2008, Climate Riders represented 30 states and a variety of cycling abilities from novices to competitive cyclists. For more information, please visit http://www.climateride.org. Videos, photos and blogs can be viewed at http://www.climateride.org/blog. For more information or to support a participant, please visit http://www.climateride.org or call 406.871.5477.
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