CYCLE TO COP23 IN GERMANY
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WE DID IT! With thousands of people coming from around the world to the COP23 in Bonn, Time to Cycle organised a sustainable, low-carbon ride from the UK to Germany, to once again stand up for social and climate justice. We also supported actions organised by Ende Gelaende.
Read more here.
This November, people from all over the world will be heading to Bonn for the COP23 climate change conference. And some of us will be making that journey by bike! Although this COP meeting is more about the technicalities, we think it's vital that we stand up for climate justice - and for those communities on the frontline of climate change. We'll be making our voice - their voices - heard, with our bike flags, bells and whistles!
Join like-minded individuals as we cycle from the UK (via ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland) to beautiful Bonn - the German city of the United Nations. We'll cycle at a relaxed pace in small groups of 7-8, covering around 60km a day (don't worry, it's mostly flat-ish), and have fun along the way. We'll stay in a variety of accommodations (church halls, school gyms, etc) and eat together in the evenings.
We've done it before and we want to do it again by doing so in a community spirit, with low environmental impact: riding together, eating together, and taking a stand for what we believe in!
We'll arrive in Bonn/Cologne (we may opt for accommodation in Cologne, 20 mins from Bonn by train, or 30km by bike, as Bonn is much smaller and there is far fewer places to stay) in time for an incredible weekend of action that is being planned for 3-5 Nov, ahead of the official start of the COP23 Climate Summit on 6 Nov. See https://www.ende-gelaende.org/en/ for the latest.
Absurdly, the conference will take place close to the gigantic lignite mines of the Rhineland coal mining area! It’s simply crazy that climate change negotiations are taking place in Bonn while 50 km away, coal is being extracted. And not just any old coal, but lignite/brown coal - the REALLY bad stuff. They plan to keep on extracting until at least 2040! The aim will be to shut down mining operations for a day through acts of peaceful civil disobedience.
If you prefer not to get involved in such an action, there will be plenty going on in Bonn, including a weekend of solidarity with the Pacific Climate Warriors, reminding the world that this is also about climate justice. An event is being planned close to the Conference Centre, which will be permitted. Details TBC.
On Sat 4th Nov there will also be a large, family-friendly march, open to all and focussing on Germany's (and the world's!) addiction to fossil fuels, especially coal.
After the weekend, you can then stay for as little or long as you like in Bonn/Cologne, you'll just need to sort your own accommodation from Monday onwards, and your travel home (we'll make recommendations to help!)
So whether you are a keen, experienced cyclist or only take your bike out on weekends, this ride will be adapted to whoever is on it. With an average of 60km/day, we will be riding in sub-groups and always gathering together at the end of the day.
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Route: You can join us anywhere along the way, whether you are starting in the UK, the Netherlands or somewhere else. Please note the route map on this page is very approximate. We plan overnight stops as follows:
Fri 27 Oct, meet in Harwich, UK, from 6pm (for ferry next day) Sat 28 Oct, Hook of Holland - Rotterdam, 30km Sun 29 Oct, Rotterdam - Tilburg, 78 km Mon 30 Oct, Tilburg - Liessel, 65 km Tue 31 Oct, Liessel - Mönchengladbach, 65 km Wed 1 Nov, Mönchengladbach - Cologne, 50 km Thu 2 Nov, Cologne - Bonn, 30km (or possibly these last 2 sections combined into one day of 80km) Cost: We always aim to make the rides as affordable as possible by applying for grants and working with other groups who also have a 'gift economy' ethos. We try and keep costs down by eating together and staying in cheap or free accommodation along the way. We are asking for £40 to cover the cost of the ferry and to cover our basic organising costs, including insurance. Food and accommodation along the way will be extra, but we're aiming to keep this to a max of £20/day. You'll need to book and pay for your own travel back home. Organising a ride: If you're interested in getting some people together, to leave from a different point and join up somewhere along the way, please get in touch and we will be delighted to help. Still doubting? Why not check out the previous rides that Time to Cycle has been involved in by clicking on 'Past Rides', or send us an email with any questions you may have. |
You can also check Time to Cycle's facebook event or contact us by email: info@timetocycle.org
