. . . . A Circum-Country Bicycle Relay . . . . Louisville KY to N Alabama (current location) to Gulf of Mexico to Miami to DC to NY to Chicago to Seattle to LA to Dallas to New Orleans back to Louisville
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Peace Transit is a slow, cross-country bicycle tour - think of it as a relay. Peace Transit focuses on the inter-relatedness of fuel dependencies, war and global climate instability. We ask elected leadership, organizations, families and individuals to reduce transportation energy consumption by reducing motor vehicle use (excepting ground public transit). By reducing transportation energy consumption we conserve fuel and material, we minimize climate change and we reduce international competition for oil (war). War and the maintenance of the machinery of war is globally unsustainable. We ask elected leadership, organizations, families and individuals to reduce their commitments to war and the machinery of war. We will deliver to the President, to governors, and to mayors a petition requesting that they take action minimizing transportation energy consumption and reducing their commitment to war. You can sign on to the online petition below. Our goal is ambitious - a national event involving thousands/millions. We are providing an opportunity for people at the local level to join a national event. We will work with local organizations at any point along the tour to organize local events. The Tour welcomes bicyclists (minors must have parental support) for short, or longer, distances all along the route. The Peace Transit route began in Louisville KY. It heads south to the Gulf of Mexico, then eastward to the tip of Florida, turns northward up the Atlantic coast to New York, turns westward to the west coast, then down the Pacific coast, across the southwest to New Orleans, and back to Louisville. We may comply with requests to send branches into Canada and Mexico. Again, this tour is a relay. The longest leg has been the fifty (50) mile ride - one hundred (100) mile round trip - from Bardstown KY to Canmer KY. The Louisville KY team passed the baton to the Bardstown KY team. The Bardstown KY team passed the baton to the Canmer KY team and on around the country the tour goes. The relay approach maximizes the opportunity for many people to participate and minimizes the mileage commitment by individuals. A different team is recruited for each leg of the relay. If teams are not cycling back home after passing the baton, the Logistics team will help line up overnight hosting. The Hosts are crucial to the success of the Peace Transit tour. Hosts are only responsible for providing a safe floor to sleep on overnight. Of course, the rider that refuses a couch, cot, air mattress or bed is the exception (and probably should not be allowed on the tour). The tour has been blessed with the generosity of gracious hosts. We need your help identifying housing. Media Reports Photo Journal Cycling Teams / Route / Schedule Petition Comments by Participants & Supporters The Peace Transit Ceremony Teams are encouraged to conduct ceremonies all along the route. The inaugural Peace Transit Ceremony took place Saturday (3 November 2007) at 8:00 a.m. in Louisville Ky at the General Castleman statue - a visually recognizable local landmark with a military context. Terry Taylor of Interfaith Paths to Peace welcomed the thirty participants and introduced the Peace Transit Tour. Susan Taylor spoke to the Peace Transit emblems (the baton, the rock and the petition parallel the three focuses of the Tour - fuel dependencies, global climate instability and war). The Rev. Joe Phelps of Highland Baptist Church introduced the riders, presented a copy of the petition to Whit Forrester and Barry Zalph for delivery to the Mayor, and presented a copy of the petition, the baton & the rock to Stephen Bartlett to be passed on to the next team. The Rev. Phil Lloyd-Sidle of James Lees Memorial Presbyterian Church blessed the riders, the bicycles, the tour supporters and the emblems. Cyclist and photo-journalist, John Paul, documented the event. After the ceremony the cycling team (some riding to Bardstown, others riding lesser distances) began the Peace Transit Tour accompanied by John Paul's boom-box strapped to the back of his big black Dutch commuter bike - "All we are saying, is give peace a chance" - by default, our anthem. Logistics Team The Peace Transit tour succeeds only with the support of the Logistics Team. This growing group coordinates riders, hosts, local events, media, the website and more. Your skills are needed. A special thanks to Stephen Bartlett, Susan Taylor and Cindy Baker. Contact If you are interested in participating as a cyclist, as a host, as part of the logistics team, or as a signatory to the Peace Transit Petition please contact: peacetransit@gmail.com or Jackie Green, Bike Couriers Bike Shop, 107 W Market St, Louisville KY 40202, 502 583 2232. The Peace Transit Baton The Peace Transit Tour has three inter-related focuses - fuel dependencies, war and global climate instability. Our emblems - a wooden baton, the petition and a small rock - parallel tour focuses. The baton's progress along the road is the transportation symbol. The petition asks elected leadership to reduce our committment to war. The rock is Earth. The rock is small enough to be cradled in the palm of your hand or carelessly thrown away. It is light enough to be treasured comfortably in the depths of your pocket or lost with neglect. It is strong and resilient, but not so much that it cannot be crushed. It came from a garden in Louisville KY. If we are responsible with it, if we cradle it, treasure it, and pass it safely from team to team, it will survive our tour and return to Louisville. ======================================================================================== |