[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1927-E1928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING WASHINGTON'S SECOND ANNUAL `PELOTON OF AWESOME'

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2011

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the 
Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus I rise today to congratulate 
the men and women who took part in the recent World Bicycle Relief 
charity bike ride. The ride is the brainchild of DC resident Miriam 
Schwedt, who was inspired to take her love of bicycling and share it 
with the world. Miriam, upon learning to ride a bike--about a year and 
a half ago--felt like she had discovered a whole new world. She started 
biking everywhere--to work, to play, to run errands--not only was it 
fun, but she got to work faster and cheaper, and was able to explore 
places she'd never been before. Miriam realized that if biking had 
changed her life in these ways, what might bikes mean for people who 
face far bigger transportation challenges? That's when Miriam 
discovered a charity called World Bicycle Relief. World Bicycle Relief 
not only funds bicycles in communities around the world, but also 
fosters local expertise and supply chains for local assembly and repair 
of bikes, creating important related jobs and skills.
  In conjunction with World Bicycle Relief, Miriam decided to join 
forces with her friend Katie Heller to start what would become an 
annual charity bike ride and fundraiser in Washington called `The 
Peloton of Awesome'. For those of you that don't know, a `peloton' is a 
group of bikers. Miriam and Katie enticed their friends to join the 
peloton because they wanted to bring the opportunities and fun of 
biking to communities where faster, easier transportation can create 
access to markets, schools, health care, and other opportunities. These 
women also took the initiative to partner with local businesses to help 
the cause. Bike and Roll donated bikes for the ride to enable people to 
participate who don't own a bike, and a local restaurant hosted a post-
ride celebration with a percentage of the profits donated to World 
Bicycle Relief. In addition, they added a raffle for items donated by 
local cycling stores, including a brand-new bike. Through generous 
support, last year the team raised almost $10,000, with all of the 
funds going to World Bicycle relief to purchase nearly an entire 
school's worth of bicycles in Zambia. More than 150 bicycle activists 
came together for the inaugural event. Given the success last year, the 
Peloton came together once again earlier this month. The second annual 
`Peloton of Awesome' took place on Saturday, October 1st, and by all 
accounts it proved to be just as big a success, despite some inclement 
weather.
  I helped form the Congressional Global Road Safety Caucus because I 
believe that safe and effective transportation is a key component of 
global economic development. World Bicycle Relief is just one of many 
organizations nationally and internationally who are helping to make 
the dream of safe roads and effective transportation for everyone 
possible. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the work 
of Miriam Schwedt, Katie Heller, all the staff and volunteers of World 
Bicycle Relief for their hard work and I look forward to hearing about 
the future successes of the Peloton, as I am sure this ride won't be 
the last.

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