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Mom Turns to Biking and Becomes and Force for Change

Nash Murray — 2013-05-03T05:47:29Z

I started biking with my one-year old five years ago, just for fun. He was never fond of riding in the car, so combining that with wanting to pollute less and several selfish reasons (I have horrible parking karma, hate traffic, am too lazy to walk from far-away parking spots, and abhor paying for parking), I started biking more and more. A second baby didn't slow things down: he started in an infant car seat in a trailer and eventually moved into a bike seat.

For a long time I was content to just set an example by being seen biking around with kids. However, it's hard not to become an advocate for safer bicycling infrastructure when our streets aren't safe for all ages and abilities. I found myself embarrassed to bring friends along on our busy routes and I get very nervous when I think about children biking separately here. I still really like to spontaneously talk to people one-on-one at red lights and at parks, but I've also expanded my reach by:

- Initiating Bike to School Month at our elementary school,

- Cofounding Seattle Critical Lass

working with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways (join your neighborhood's group!),

- And I've recently become a Cascade Bicycle Club Ride Leader so I can bring more families along for the ride.

Because what it all comes back to is, biking is fun and I want more company out there!

-Madi Carlson

http://familyride.us/

Shop at Roosevelt Whole Foods on 4/10, 5% Goes to CoolMom!

Nash Murray — 2013-04-10T04:49:18Z

Calling all CoolMoms!

The Whole Foods Market in Roosevelt loves CoolMom and supports our work!

They have a program where they donate 5% of the proceeds of the store for a day to a non-profit of their choice. They have decided that Wednesday, April 10th, will be the day for CoolMom!! It is short notice but this is a great way for us to reach a new neighborhood of families making good choices for the environment.

There are 2 easy ways for you to help:

1. Can you spare an hour or two to "table" at Whole Foods tomorrow? We have the materials needed (we'll even have a great t-shirt you can wear) at the store. You can talk to folks about how you got involved and why you're excited about CoolMom. You can contact Nash:nashmurray@coolmom.org if you can make it.

2. Shop and spread the word for everyone you know to shop tomorrow at the Roosevelt Whole Foods Market (1026 NE 64th St, Seattle, WA 98115).

Thank you!! Happy shopping.

CoolMom speaking at Whole Foods Monday 4/8

Nash Murray — 2013-04-05T05:07:13Z

Nash Murray and Greenwood CoolMom member, Jenny Rhodes will be speaking with other neighborhood groups about how families can impact climate change through our actions, consumer power, and community.

Learn more about what the neighborhood groups are doing, our Think Outside the Car program, Local Lunch Boxes, and what more we can do to reduce our footprint and impact our communities.

Celebrating Think Outside the Car

Terri Glabberson — 2013-01-17T06:39:25Z

On Tuesday, January 15th CoolMom and our Think Outside the Car Steering Committee celebrated our carbon saving Walking School Buses and No-Idle Campaign. Those in attendance were treated to our Think Outside the Car video and a thank you ceremony for our volunteers.

Our Think Outside the Car (TOC) team partnered with businesses, groups and individuals to spread awareness about car-idling and inspiring walking and biking to school.

Think Outside the Car gets Results

The project:

Started three walking school buses and there is more to come!
Paid for 6 bike racks at Lafayette and Gatewood Schools
Created a No-Idle campaign at Gatewood school, posting signs and reducing idling behavior by over 90%
Presented our project in 10 community events educating families about TOC, including a large community tabling event created by our TOC team partnering with five other environmentally conscientious organizations.
Engaged over 35 motorists lined up for the Fauntleroy Ferry -educating, inspiring and confirming that car idling creates 20 times more pollution than a car traveling 32 miles per hour!!!

Because this project can make such a big impact on carbon savings and engaging communities on the importance of clean air, CoolMom will continue this work.

CoolMom plans to help create additional Walking School Buses and to establish No-Idle Zones at schools and within the community by educating motorists and posting no-idle signs at local businesses.

BIG THANKS!

A large thank you to the Department of Neighborhoods and especially Laurie Ames for helping us navigate through the grant process and supporting our efforts! We also owe a big thanks to our Walking School Bus Monitors, No-Idle champions and all the kids that participated in the project.

Special thanks to Terri, Laura, Barb, Fletcher, Peter, Gene and Christina -our TOC Steering Committee Team!

And thank you to Safeway for supporting our project through sponsorship and Organic Valley for donating items for our TOC Kick-Off event!

Volunteer to Expand Think Outside the Car!

CoolMom will continue working on the project Think Outside the Car. We need volunteers to help create new Walking School Buses and furthering our No-Idle campaign. Contact Sonja Nash, CoolMom Program Director, at sonjanash at cool mom dot org.