Walk Against Warming bike-riders join Critical Mass

When: Friday, November 27 5pm
Where: Franklin Square

A community bike ride to the Upper Florentine for the Walk Against Warming next month was promoted yesterday (Friday) during Critical Mass. Critical Mass is a monthly gathering in Hobart which promotes cycling as an alternative means of transport.

The Walk Against Warming will be in the Upper Florentine Forest on Saturday 12 December. A group of cyclists will travel to the event using pedal-power, setting off two days before the event. They are encouraging other Tasmanians to join them, or to use other sustainable transport options, such as car-pooling and buses.

Keen bicyclist Carl Bennett, who has cycled between Hobart and the Upper Florentine several times, is leading the trip and says it’s a great opportunity for people to travel to the event in a fun and interesting way.

“It is an enjoyable 120km ride, which takes riders through some beautiful parts of Tasmania, including the forests of the Upper Florentine,” said Mr Bennett. “The views of the magnificent mountains of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area along the way are breathtaking.

“Changing transport behaviour is an important part of the personal response to climate change; however, sustainable transport is just one way of addressing climate change. We also need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, invest in renewable energy, and commit to protecting the world’s forests, including those in Tasmania,” he added.

The Walk Against Warming will feature talks from a number of people, including climatologist James Risbey, gardening celebrity Peter Cundall, and renewable-energy experts.

“This is a great opportunity for Tasmanians to hear from these speakers and to visit the forests of the Upper Florentine,” said Jess Wright from Environment Tasmania, one of the organising groups. “Tasmanians will join with thousands of people all over Australia walking for a safe climate on December 12th.”

“Forestry Tasmania has agreed to lift the exclusion zone for this area, giving the public permission to be in the forest for this important event.”

The Walk Against Warming cyclists are encouraging others to join them. Cyclists can join the ride by calling Jess on (03) 6224 6319 or emailing climate@et.org.au

On the day of departure, other cyclists will join the Walk Against Warming cyclists for a short ride with them as they depart from Hobart.
Jess Wright