Politicos: Out of the Limo, Get on a Bike

Last week came the news out of Denver that there simply wouldn't be enough limousines for the gazillions of big-wigs descending on the mile high city for the Democratic National Convention. All I could think, besides the most ladylike way to snort derisively, was "SERIOUSLY?? We're picking a contender for the leader of the free world, gathering the powers that be and no one is thinking beyond environmental rhetoric and actually using reponsible transport??" (Unless of course they're packing pols into limos clown car style and calling it a car pool...)  Trust me, the Republicans will not do better in the Twin Cities at the end of the month. It's both hilarious, in that Jon Stewart kind of way, and sad. 

Well, to that end Humana, a health benefits company, and Bikes Belong, the nonprofit cycling advocacy group, are providing both the Democratic and Republican convention with 1,000 FREE bikes through its Freewheelin bike-sharing program. Anyone over age 18 can check out a bike at one of seven bike stations, use for the day, then return to any station. Use of the bikes is free for everyone, and come equipped with an odometer that tracks distance traveled, calories burned and carbon footprint reduction. They're even providing maps and sanitized helmets for the political domes.

The convention bike-share program kicked off in Colorado Monday, when close to 150 people--led by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak--pedaled their sexy selves, in a bicycle parade of greeniness, about 3.5 miles to the Denver Performing Arts Center's Sculpture Park where they were greeted by a large crowd of convention-goers, local residents, media, and a diverse bunch of activists.

On the very first day of the DNC, Freewheelin reports 1,429 rides taken and almost 3,000 miles of pure pedal power logged.  Just think of all the greenhouse gases that never saw the light of day.

If all 1,000 bikes are used at both conventions, the national carbon footprint will be reduced by 4.4 tons. No small difference, kids. With Americans increasingly worried about the state of the world, bike-sharing and bike riding in general offers one effective solution for the environment, the wallet, and our ever expanding backsides.

I'll pay $1 American to the first person who can send me a photo of House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) or Speaker of the House (D-CA) Nancy Pelosi on a Freewheelin bike attending their respective conventions. First rep wins my party vote.

(Kidding about the vote, not kidding about the cold hard cash.) To get the whole scoop on FreeWheelin, check THIS out.