Ride to Villa Park and Move the Planet Beyond Fossil Fuels
On Saturday, September 24, bike riders and walkers from around DuPage County will converge at Rugaard Gazebo on the Illinois Prairie Path in Villa Park between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm to put concern about climate change into motion and move the planet beyond fossil fuel.
Sponsored by 350.org and Sierra Club, Moving Planet DuPage joins events around the world in asking for action to protect the climate. One way of moving beyond fossil fuel is encouraging active transportation such as bicycling. “Riding a bike doesn't use gasoline.” says Bob Hoel, Chair of Elmhurst's Bike Task Force. “Ok, so you do use fuel,” he added, “but it is in terms of donuts or pasta. If you use a bike for those short errands around town, that is when an auto is the most inefficient as the sensors begin to adjust the engine. So the short trips have the biggest yield in terms of gasoline saved per mile.”
At Moving Planet DuPage, several area communities that have made a commitment to local climate change solutions will be recognized, including Carol Stream, Elgin, Lombard, Villa Park and Aurora. Aurora is the first Illinois city to be designated a Green Power Community by the Environmental Protection Agency for meeting renewable energy purchase targets. All fifty five Illinois Cool Cities are working to reduce greenhouse gases through energy efficiency, fuel efficient vehicles and increased reliance on renewable energy resources.
For her work on the Cool Cities initiative, Lonnie Morris will be presented Sierra Club's Special Achievement award from Jack Darin, Director, Illinois Sierra Club. Sierra Club offered a trip to San Francisco to receive the award but Ms. Morris chose to receive it locally where her work has taken place. “The mayors and communities that signed the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement made Cool Cities successful. It was important for me to share the recognition with them.”
Everyone is encouraged to ride, walk or carpool to Rugaard Gazebo on September 24th. Bicyclists can pick up decorative streamers for their handle bars and numbers for their jerseys at stations along the Illinois Prairie Path in Warrenville, Winfield, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lombard and Elmhurst. Moving Planet DuPage is aiming for 350 participants, the safe number of parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Free bike tune ups will be provided by Performance Bicycle and riders can have spinal kinks identified with free scans from West Suburban Wellness. Citizens Utility Board will offer tips on saving electricity and reducing monthly bills. Music, speakers, food and exhibitors are available from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, with a group photo at 1:45 pm. Cool Cities awards will begin at 2:00 pm. The first 200 participants will receive a Moving Planet t-shirt donated by West Suburban Bank.
The event takes place rain or shine.
For more information, contact Lonnie Morris at 630.627.3982 herbndove@comcast.net