Seattle Climate Action Now Event at Bike Works

The City of Seattle's Climate Protection Initiative was born in February 2005 when Mayor Greg Nickels pledged that Seattle -- the entire community not just City government -- would meet or beat the United States' target of the Kyoto Treaty: reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

Unlike some other politicians, Mayor Nickels and his crew recognize that bicycles are a valid and valuable component of our transportation system. On Saturday, September 22, 2007, folks from Seattle CAN, the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, the Bikery, Bike Works, and the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation all got together in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle to provide some hands-on help and information to aid people in their efforts to reduce their carbon footprints and increase their use of bicycles. Tutta Bella, a very environmentally-conscious local restaurant, provided coffee and pastries and one of their people talked about environmental initiatives within their business. Dara Ayres, Bike Works Executive Director spoke briefly and introduced me and I, in turn, spoke briefly and introduced Mayor Nichols. The mayor spoke about how Seattle as a city and how Seattle-ites as individuals are making a difference. The most impressive thing to me was not just that the mayor spoke, he listened. He didn't just stay for a photo-op, he chatted with various bike commuters and volunteers.

We didn't have a lot of lead time to put this event together or to get the word out. Dara and her crew were literally making signs the day of the event but it all came together nicely. It was a fun day and maybe we made a little bit of a difference.