Climate Summer Bicyclists Coming to Medford July 16-22

Six young adults are spending the summer traveling exclusively by bike around Massachusetts to inspire communities to curb use of fossil fuels

Medford, MA, July 8 ~ New England Climate Summer will reprise their 2011 visit to Medford this coming July 16-22, helping to strengthen and inspire community groups, while actively addressing society’s addiction to fossil fuels by crafting local solutions that strengthen communities. The Climate Summer riders, who are college students and recent graduates, are spending their summer working with community leaders and residents to connect diverse constituencies and weave a powerful movement against fossil fuel use and climate change. Riders live their values—traveling exclusively by bike across New England.

The Medford team consists of three young women and three young men, who will visit six Massachusetts communities in addition to Medford (Lexington, Hull, Waltham, Northampton, Holyoke, and Worcester) by the end of summer. Their visit to Medford is sponsored by the City and by Green Medford. More information about the team members is posted on the Climate Summer website (http://www.climatesummer.net/the-teams/massachusetts-team-2012).

While they are in Medford, the Climate summer team plans to participate in many events on behalf of a better Medford. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN THEM!

o   Bike Fest at the Medford Farmers Market, Thursday, July 19^th from 3-7 pm, Riverside Ave behind City Hall. The Bike Fest will include free tuneups, kids’ activities, test rides of electric bikes from Smooth Scooters, a raffle for a new bike helmet from Medford Saving Lives, as well as donations of used bikes and equipment to low-income individuals who need them though an organization called ROLL IT FORWARD. Bring your bike, your kids, your buddies, and your shopping bags to the Farmers Market and Bike Fest for a great event.

o   Circle the Square, Thursday, July 19^th from 3-7 pm, all around Medford Square. Enjoy all the beauty and bounty that Medford Square has to offer, on display for your pleasure! At this debut event, you can shop at the Farmers Market, listen to great live music, meet the Climate Summer team, and buy local art—all right in “the Square.”

o   Outreach for Walk-Ride Days: The team will recruit businesses to join the growing Medford Walk-Ride Days program, which is designed to get people out of cars and onto the streets. Celebrated on the last Friday of each month, Walk-Ride Day businesses offer special incentives to people who ride a bike, walk, or take a bus. Find all the participating businesses and their offers here: http://gogreenstreets.org/city/medford-ma.

o   Green Medford Planning Meeting, July 17, 7-9 pm. For location, email greenmedford@gmail.com.

o   Pulling invasive water chestnuts from the Mystic River. The Mystic River Watershed Association is sponsoring a small team of boats on July 17^th. The riders will get off their bikes and onto the water for a few hours of effort on behalf of our river.

o   A film about sustainability and curbing our addiction to fossil fuels: Climate Summer members will be interviewing members of the Medford community for this video. Want to be on camera? Just look for the distinctive group of bikers with video cameras around Medford all week.

New England Climate Summer (http://www.climatesummer.net) is a summer internship program for college students, graduate students, and recent graduates. Climate Summer riders travel exclusively by bicycle in small teams across New England, spending approximately one week in a community before biking on to the next. While in each town, riders connect with community leaders who are actively addressing society’s addiction to fossil fuels by crafting local solutions that strengthen communities. Riders bring with them a movement-building perspective, empowering those they meet and helping to highlight the important work of local organizations. In Medford Climate Summer is partnering with Green Medford and many organizations that are working to make Medford great in every way.

Green Medford (http://greenmedford.blogspot.com) is a grassroots group of residents. Some volunteer with other Medford-based organizations, while others are independent but want to help Medford be a more sustainable and enjoyable community. Green Medford also supports municipal efforts related to energy efficiency and climate change. We are a chapter of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network, which combines the forces of more than 70 communities across the state, all working to fight the impacts of climate change.

Contact:

Susan Altman, Green Medford, greenmedford@gmail.com, 781-526-4714