The Brita Climate Ride is a five day bike tour from New York City to Washington D.C. to promote solutions to global warming. But it is also much more.

The ride is a fundraiser for the non-profits Clean Air – Cool Planet and Focus the Nation. Clean Air – Cool Planet works with cities, campuses, and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Focus the Nation partners with legislators and colleges across the country, and recently staged the largest national teach-in in history. Both organizations understand the urgency of the problem, and our need for immediate action. Our riders will support these non-profits by asking their friends, family, neighbors, and themselves to donate. Each rider will raise $2,250.

The ride is also a scenic five-day bike tour that will challenge and reward our riders. From September 20th to 24th, our riders will cover 320 miles, pushing themselves to show what is possible on bicycles.

We at the Brita Climate Ride are thrilled how scenic our route is. There are excellent low-traffic roads linking our nation’s largest city and our nation’s capital. The route passes through rural New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, passing through wooded rolling hills, equine estates, and the pastoral scenes of Amish country.

In the evening, after our cyclists have enjoyed a shower and a catered meal, they will gather for a presentation by an expert speaker. The subject matter will range from the expected impacts of global warming to the exciting possibilities of renewable energy. Members of local communities will be invited to join.

The climate conference, though, will likely continue through the day, as many of our riders are themselves experts on the subject. We expect to learn from each other as we ride, and be inspired at lunch breaks and water stops.

Our destination is our nation’s capital, where we ride for obvious reasons: we want our government to take leadership and chart a course for a clean energy future. We want renewable energy that will end our economy’s dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil. We want better public transit and we want bike lanes so that we can safely bike to work. We want a safe climate and a better future.

This ride is an opportunity to make a difference, make a statement, and be inspired. Join us for a ride to the nation’s capital.