20. Bicycling and Ecotourism/Good Earthkeeping Right at Home
“Grandpa, are the ice caps really melting?”
(Photo of Big Sur coast courtesy of Devian Gilbert, AsanaCycles.)
Being close to nature, as you are on a bicycle, inspires safeguarding it.
Consensus about climate change continues to build among people of all political and religious backgrounds. For some people though, climate change remains controversial. Regardless, most folks agree that bicycling can be a great way to help take care of the Earth, where you live and where you travel.
Riding a bicycle helps reduce air pollution, noise pollution, and water pollution (oil run-off from streets into the Monterey Bay). Check out the City of Monterey’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division’s Transportation page, which includes info on the environmental impact of cars.
Biking isn’t a sacrifice, it’s fun! There are so many benefits of biking (see “Why Bike?” on this site). Caring for the Earth is another sound reason to get out there and pedal. Stamina or schedule doesn’t permit biking to your destination? Bike-and-ride!
See the list below for some things you can do, besides biking, to be a more environmentally conscious traveler–or resident, right where you live. The list includes links to advocacy groups helping to keep Monterey County, and beyond, beautiful.
One more thing: Someday soon, you may find bicycles made of 100% recycled materials. The ReCycle bikes are made in USA from recycled aluminum, and 100% post-consumer content is their goal. Definitely worth a look!
Biking not only benefits their personal health,
it benefits the health of their planet too!
New Year’s Day 2012: Children on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail in Monterey.
Sonoma County resident Jeff Dibble and his friend Irene love traveling to Monterey County’s attractions on their bicycles!
Local resident Jeremy Perez is all smiles,
loving his beautiful neighborhood and helping to keep it beautiful by biking every chance he gets.
A visitor helps care for the Monterey Bay by checking out the beauty via his bike.
Being a more environmentally conscious traveler–and resident
Bicycling is a great way to start, and here are some other ideas:
- Headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other popular attractions? When you’re not biking, use public transportation as often as possible. Check the bike-and-ride tips on this site.
- See “Bike to the Beach–and Care for What You Love” for info on plastics, polystyrene, storm drain stenciling, and more.
- Dining at a restaurant and have leftovers? Or, picking up restaurant carry-out? Acknowledge those restaurants that are “keeping it green” by complying with local bans on polystyrene/styrofoam. And put those that aren’t yet complying on notice. How? Use the Monterey County Weekly’s quick and easy-to-use online “Polystyrene Tracking Sheet.” (Alternatively, contact the restaurant manager directly. Making the change may simply have slipped through the cracks on a too-long to-do list. Most want to do the right thing and will appreciate a polite reminder.)
- Seek out locally grown and also organically grown food at our Farmers Markets.
- Support Monterey Bay Certified Green Businesses, including these extra bike-friendly certified green spots.
- On staycation, or traveling and need lodging? Ask questions of hotels when making reservations; find out what they are doing to be truly “greener.”
- Consider camping now and then. Camping in Monterey County is an option for many people, and can renew your appreciation for nature.
- Plan outdoor activities of all sorts—get out on the bay by renting a kayak, or a wetsuit to go body surfing; go roller skating, running, or walking on the multi-use trail; go hiking or birdwatching in our wilderness areas. Whatever you do outdoors, being in nature is a great inspiration for safeguarding it!
- Check out the websites of local wilderness organizations: Ventana Wilderness Alliance, Monterey Peninsula Audobon Society, Ventana Wilderness Society, Ventana Wildlife Society, Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club.
- Tune in to eco organizations such as Monterey County chapter of Surfrider, Monterey Bay area’s Save Our Shores, and Monterey County’s Monterey Green Action, Sustainable Monterey County, Sustainable Salinas, and Sustainable Pacific Grove. They host many activities, such as the Environmental Film Cafe at East Village Coffee Lounge.
- Bike to church, mosque, satsang, synagogue, or other place of worship. See “Former ER doc now attending to the health of the planet” for inspiration.
- Attending a special event? If you’re headed to an event such as the Sea Otter Classic or a Pebble Beach event, support their environmental stewardship goals, then go the extra mile. Bring your own reusable cloth napkins, tableware, silverware, and beverage containers. Bike all or part-way to the event. Have a disposable item? Look for the recycling bins! Recycle (and whenever possible, reduce or reuse first).
- Support the businesses and organizations who give discounts, every Thursday, to those who ride a bike. Support them even if it’s not a Thursday, even if you’re not on a bike. Why? Because they are doing their part, year-round, to motivate people to use green transportation: the bicycle!
- Volunteer with Bicycling Monterey and/or the HER Helmet Thursdays project to support bike advocacy in Monterey County. Or, volunteer with other local bike community leaders.
This man is doing double duty to help the Earth: he recycles as he bicycles.
Surfrider volunteers help clean up the beach and raise awareness about the impact of plastics on the ocean.
Please visit the SurfriderMonterey.org website to learn more.
Eco-rewards
Here in Monterey County, businesses and organizations are partnering with individuals in an ecology-economy sustainability project to encourage visitors, and residents, to bike more. Check out the HER Helmet Thursdays discounts, for males and females, locals and visitors.
What’s happening in Monterey County…and around the nation
Mayors of the Monterey County cities of Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Salinas have all signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Their support of cycling—aiming for a complete bike network— is one way they take action as signers of that agreement.
Emily Newman smiles because she knows her workplace
is full of people who are doing good things for the City of Monterey, and the Earth. That bike rack out front of the Solid Waste and Recycling Division’s office is just one small sign of Monterey’s commitment to climate protection. 
All local cities want to support visitors’ desires to be more ecologically conscious tourists. You may contact the City of Monterey and other local municipalities with your ideas and questions.
Tell their traffic engineers or other municipal leaders what you found wonderful about biking here, as well as anything you found challenging, you can help them create better conditions for cycling–and who knows? Maybe it will help create better conditions for non-cyclists, such as polar bears, too!
