“We Resist. We Build. We Bike. People’s Climate March, April 29, 2017, Washington DC.”
That is what the front of our flier says — the flier my companions and I will be distributing to everyone we meet as we ride our bikes from Northampton to the big climate march in D.C. at the end of April.
Ten of us — all stalwart climate-change activists — will leave Northampton early on April 21, heading south, cycling over eight days to Washington in an effort to get to the climate march on our own steam. All of us had intended to go to D.C. to participate in the People’s Climate March, but we realized that we wanted to arrive there gently, modeling through our own behavior a low-carbon footprint as we journey to the march on our own power (we have one support vehicle).
The idea was birthed during the winter months, so early training rides involved bundling up against the cold, swerving around patches of ice, and biking past impressive snowbanks. But the group persisted and now we are finally ready to go.
The climate cyclists are an intergenerational group ranging in age from 21 to 75. We are parents, students, pastors, a carpenter, an educator, a scientist, an artist, a photographer, and a consultant. We are from Easthampton, Holyoke, Northampton, and Amherst. We are a diverse group with one thing in common: a belief that the planet is quickly heating up to dangerous levels and that our government should do more to help this nation break its dependency on fossil fuels.
We also are using our trip to spread the word about the quite remarkable East Coast Greenway (www.greenway.org), the route we are following. The East Coast Greenway is a long-distance, continuous trail network that spans almost 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, using both bike paths and secondary roads. Currently the Greenway consists of 30 percent off-road trails with more miles of bike paths added each year.
The Greenway is a safe, accessible route for people of all ages to pedal the length of the entire East Coast. It seeks to empower low-cost, sustainable transportation and to foster active lifestyles. We are delighted to bike along 360 miles of the Greenway, and hope to promote its use as we travel south.
As word of our bike ride to the climate march has gotten out in the community, people have begun to ask the 10 of us, “Why are you doing this?” And that is of course a great question!
Individuals in the group give these responses: “Because 2016 was the hottest year ever on record,” “Because our bodies are a source of power and possibility,” “Because the current administration does not believe in the existence of climate change,” “Because a bicycle is one of the most energy-efficient forms of travel,” “Because we must do all we can to save our planet,” and “To spread messages of hope, resistance, and kindness to those we meet along the way.”
As we travel south, we will talk to any and all who choose to engage with us and hand our flier about the People’s Climate March to anyone who will accept it. We will be staying in churches, hotels, and people’s homes, and we intend to listen to and talk with everyone we meet along our trip. Because we will be traveling slowly, we hope to learn about some of the communities we are biking through and encourage those who we meet to join us at the march in Washington.
My personal reason for biking to the People’s Climate March is rooted in my religious beliefs. As a person of faith, I believe the trip is a way for me to witness to my love of creation and give voice to my deep fears about the fate of this good green Earth.
As a pastor, I believe strongly in the Ten Commandments, and my climate-change activism is anchored in this one: “Thou shalt not steal.” I believe that due to our reckless use of fossil fuels — the ultimate case of global warming — we are stealing the future from our children and grandchildren, and their descendants. That simple awareness motivates me to be active in the movement to stop climate change.
Our bike group knows that many, many folks in the Pioneer Valley are heading to the People’s Climate March, and we are excited to hear about the many buses filling to capacity and about folks making other plans to get to Washington D.C.
If you think of our intrepid group pedaling our way south during the week prior to the march, send us warm thoughts filled with images of strong legs and lungs! And look for us in Washington — we will see you there!
The Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian, of Northampton, is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She writes a monthly column on the intersection of faith, culture and politics.