Students Bike into Medford to Promote Sustainability

Five college students biked into Medford on Tuesday surpassing their 300-mile mark as part of a nine-week bicycle journey with the Climate Summer Program, where they are building a movement to end the use of fossil fuels. By the end of the summer, the riders will have biked over four hundred miles—the distance from Boston to Washington, D.C., excluding in-town daily community, which the riders estimate will double their mileage.

Climate Summer is a program of Better Future Project. Six teams of students bike across New England, traveling through various communities over the course of the summer. Students will be working to support local groups in their efforts towards sustainability, while communicating the need for a rapid and responsible transition away from fossil fuels. As they document and share the communities’ experiences, they will create a State of the Movement Report that everyone can use as inspiration in their own communities. In this way the riders hope to share the collective successes of those they meet, and to demonstrate the power of community action in building a better future.

On Thursday, the team, which calls itself “MassMovement”, tabled at the “Bike Fest” at the Medford Farmer’s market and partnered with Green Medford, where they talked to Medford residents about environmental challenges faced by the community and ways individuals can get more involved.

“Having Climate Summer at the Medford Farmers Market was a perfect example of a connected community- bringing together a group of students with disparate backgrounds at a local farmers market, in the Whole Foods Market parking lot, with local businesses support and community organizations supporting ‘green’ projects, all listening to music powered by bikes under blue skies,” says Susan Fairchild, the head of the Farmer’s Market. “You just don’t get that sort of convergence very often, and it is such a wonderful feeling when you do!”

The Climate Summer group also met Power Kids Summer Enrichment Program on Friday to talk with them about issues of climate change and the harms of fossil fuels, followed by a sustainable food tour of Whole Foods on Mystic Valley Parkway. The group attended the Brooks Estate Picnic on Saturday and on Sunday met with representatives of Medford City Departments to discuss success and challenges in making Medford more sustainable. For their last event, the riders got a tour of Medford by bicycle led by resident Tom Lincoln. Climate Summer also spoke at Temple Shalom, Wesley United Methodist Church, (where they were graciously housed for the week), and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford.

“Medford have been receptive and energized when discussing our mission; our team looks forward to working with Arlington and the other towns lying ahead. Climate change is a pressing issue affecting everyone and proactive measures need to be taken now to preserve the world we want to pass onto future generations,” says Climate rider, Maureen McCoy, 20.

Climate Summer students with Green Medford’s Susan Altman outside of Medford City Hall. Student riders include Rayleigh Lei from Columbia University, Carrie Watkins and Amira Mintz-Morgenthau from Brandeis University, Lauren Clapp from Elon University, and Maureen McCoy from St. Lawrence University.

Students enjoy Bike Fest at the Farmers Market last week, with entertainment by bike-powered band Melodeego.

The students met with City Hall leaders, including Mayor Michael McGlynn.

– Submitted by Amira Mintz-Morgenthau, Climate Summer