The participants have seen firsthand how a solar bike attracts media
attention. Each July, 15,000 bikers cross the state over seven days in RAGBRAI, The Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. In 1999,
David Osterberg, who was global climate change coordinator for the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, organized a team to ride RAGBRAI on a homemade
solar assisted bicycle. The rationale was that since the RAGBRAI route
passed near two recently built wind farms, media covering RAGBRAI could be
nudged to change their focus to cover alternative energy as well.
The riders were able to command a great deal of press with the solar bike.
When we did, we quickly moved interviews from fun on a solar assisted
vehicle in some hilly country, to other alternative energy sources in the
area. The press reported that Iowa wind power was beginning to combat
global warming and making money in the process.
Osterberg's solar team members included Ed Woolsey
and Jim Cooper, Iowa based energy experts and
John Passacantando, now head of Greenpeace USA and formerly with Ozone Action. John brought two bikers, flags, T-shirts, a rented van and media savvy. The National Environmental Trust helped arrange the press for the
tour.
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