Annual Climate Bike Ride Underway From Brazil Via Europe To Asia Minor
Retired pediatrician Gerd Steiner arrived at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, completing a leg of the COP31 Bike Ride, bringing a climate banner from Hamburg that originated in Brazil. Welcomed by "Respect Cyclists" and organizer Jolein Schorel, the event underscored the ride's mission to advocate for cycling as a vital climate solution. The banner will traverse Europe, ending in Antalya, Turkey, for COP31, where leaders will receive ten policy proposals to leverage cycling for climate protection. Despite cycling's potential to significantly cut transport emissions, only 25% of nations integrate it into their climate action plans. Steiner exemplifies a low-resource lifestyle, while local activists voiced concerns over Berlin's declining cycling infrastructure. Musician Bernadette La Hengst performed climate songs, urging global leaders to embrace a sustainable future.
Gerd Steiner, a retired pediatrician and cycling enthusiast, arrived this week at Berlin’s iconic Brandenberg Gate to umbrellas, high winds and climate songs from German musician Bernadette La Hengst and her Chor der Statistik.
Flanked by cyclists from the Berlin-based Respect Cyclists, Gerd was bringing a banner from Hamburg that over the coming months will travel across Europe ending in Antalya Turkey.
The banner had arrived in Hamburg on sailing ship Avontuur from Belem, Brazil. Belem hosted last year’s UN climate conference, where We Don’t Have Time had met up and interviewed the French, Kenyan and Brazilian members of the COP30 Bike Ride.
Joining the welcoming committee in Berlin was Jolein Schorel, one of the organizers of the ride and a sustainability expert based in Utrecht, Netherlands.
“We are connecting with the rest of the world and with those who want cycling to be recognized as among the key climate solutions. And we are all bringing this message to leaders attending the next COP, co-hosted in November by Turkey and Australia,” she said.
Ms Schorel urged cyclists, environmentalists and citizens living along the routes leading to Cop31 to join the rides and get involved.
Meanwhile, other guests at the Brandenburg Gate included Bernadette La Hengst, a German pop music composer and singer, who has penned several climate related songs including I’m an Island which was the official opening cultural moment at COP23 held in Bonn where the government of Fiji presided.
She and members of the Berlin-based Chor der Statistik performed two other of La Hengst’s songs—I Need Air and Save the World (with this Melody) written for the Save the World Festival.
The COP31 Bike Ride, that in Europe has starting points including from Lisbon, Bordeaux, Amsterdam, London, Bilbao and Pointe Du Raz and as well as Hamburg, is not just about the joy of cycling.
But also, about changing government policies on cycling. Along the route to COP31, the ride team are promoting ten proposals to “leverage cycling for climate protection”.
Despite evidence that a “realistic shift to walking/cycling/public transport could lead to 50% reduction in transport emissions” only 25 per cent of nations have included cycling and walking in their national climate action plans (NDCs) under the landmark Paris Climate Agreement.
Mr Steiner, the flag bearer from Hamburg, told Nick Nuttall of We Don’t Have Time, some of the issues that had motivated him to do the 560km journey.
“Through my actions I want to set an example of how a life without heavy resource consumption can still be fulfilling. This includes eating a vegetarian or vegan diet, swapping second-hand clothes and books and avoiding driving a car whenever possible and no flying,” he said.
Mr Steiner, who comes from Westerrönfeld, near Rendsburg and in his spare time volunteers to support migrants, summed up his perspectives with the motto: „Ride slower and change” plus “peace in the world or the world in pieces”.
Sibylle Grunze, who with fellow Respect Cyclists Volker Mai also assisted with We Don’t Have Time’s filming of the event, said of the COP31 Bike Ride:” It is great to be able to focus on climate and the change we need in cities. In Berlin, we are experiencing a huge back roll in cycling policies. Bike paths are being taken away, trees are being felled and you wonder guys, what century are you living in”.
Asked what message she might have for world leaders including Germany’s Chancellor Merz, the film maker and science communicator, added to the applause of all present: “Wake up and come to the new century with us”.