I have known Martin for nearly 20 years … maybe more. We met through the active love of cycling. He rides! I Ride! We both have taken riding to a level that is in the upper echelons of (apparent) insanity. That is insanity IF we were not in a terrible situation in this earth. But we ar concerned about the climate situation… with radical need to STOP adding to the carbon in the atmosphere. Currently (by the testing here in the Denver area) the CO2 is above 420 Parts Per Million. The last 12 months, the world’s land temperature has risen to OVER 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels. Also, all efforts to stop this climate destruction have failed miserably!
Martin and I have many things in common: A) We care about the Earth and future citizens, B) We both have ridden across the USA a couple times on bikes, C) We are not limited in addressing issues which we see as being important, by fear of difficulty, D) We have both been physically dead. On the latter, luckily, we have both been able to get restored to living for a while. Also, on the latter: possibly this adds to our ability to seriously address issues which are important for human society.
On our climate actions, we have each specialized in different areas. Martin, on decarbonizing transportation. I have (although a cyclist) concentrated on transforming existing buildings to be CARBON FREE … beyond net zero.
Martin’s approach has involved Multi-media development … but heavily relying on writing books. Mine has been through PowerPoint presentations at conferences and on U-tube – Sample. Martin has taken the approach to get a structured solution to addressing this situation through transformation of society to stop vehicular pollution. His efforts, for decades, have been to set up the National Bicycle Greenway. This greenway is a way to have people make their transportation shift from burning gasoline / diesel / or other fossil fuels, to riding bikes. The benefits of riding bicycles extends to a person’s health also… when done regularly in clean air.
In this new book, Martin introduces a new concept: Bicycle Villages. This approach has many benefits in socializing the concept of the transition away from fossil fuel vehicles, as well as, making the work to transform the transportation infrastructure development more politically acceptable.
I commend Martin on his work! I hope his progressive vision can be realized in time to save a livable and healthy world for all of our children and grandchildren.
Thank You Martin!
Note: Steve Stevens is the fastest man to have ever crossed the USA on a HiWheel bicycle. He did so in 29 days. He also lives in the most sustainable home in America