Super Eco

Photo credit: freewheelinbiker, flickr

Matthew Modine talked recently with Super Eco Editor Rachael Brownell about his non-profit, Bicycle for a Day, the joy of cycling in New York City, and how Jacques Cousteau inspired a life's work.

So you're obviously passionate about bicycling. How did that start for you?

When I was a poor actor in New York, I used to sell lemonade on 42nd and Lexington. One day someone left a bike leaned up against a building and after a few days I decided to make it mine. And I never looked back.

Bicycling is a great way to be conscious of the environment. If it's raining you feel it. It also brings back memories of those first times as a kid riding a bike without help.... It's liberating and reminiscent of simpler times.

What do you say to someone who cannot conceive of bicycling regularly, who is harried and busy and laden with groceries and children?

Most car trips people make are less than 5 miles. Bicycle for a Day encourages people to not just think about the environment, but also think about improving their health.

Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate and heart disease is one of our country's bigger killers. People who may not think there is reason to be concerned about the environment, might be motivated by personal health.

For people with physical challenges there are always electric bicycles or a Segway (one of the sponsors of BFD).

What does living an environmentally conscious life look like to you?

Every day we can all make hundreds of small changes that make a huge difference:

1. remembering to turn the lights out when you leave the room
2. unplugging appliances or electronics not in use
3. using cloth rather than plastic bags at the grocery
4. bicycling
5. taking care what you pour down the drain

What if neighbors got together and took down the fences between their houses and planted vegetable gardens to share and build community? Like the Victory Gardens from WWII. What if neighbors tore out lawns: for example, Californians don't do lawns anymore for the most part. They primarily use native plants.

The impact of people making small changes has a cumulative and potentially global impact.

Who are your personal heroes, environmentally or otherwise?

I was first inspired by my Oceanography professor in 1978. He scared all of us with tales of the future problems faced by the ocean, that the ocean could turn into a red sea. People don't realize that the ocean is the Earth's largest source of oxygen.

Otherwise, I was inspired by Jacques Cousteau. He wrote a book that I love called "The Cousteau Almanac," which is so inspiring.  You can get angry and blame people for problems... or you can point the finger in a new direction, acknowledge the problem, and get active.

Take common daily things like the paperclip—people don't realize how many gallons of water / how much energy goes into creating materials that they use every day and then throw away.

Where do you go these days to feel close to nature?

Long Island mostly.

How did BFD come about and what is your long-term vision for Bicycle for a Day?

The idea came out of Davos—specifically the group, Young Global Leaders. They decided to focus on the environment and they reached out to me after the meeting and asked me what I would do to reduce carbon emissions worldwide.

I answered "bicycling"

BFD's first event was held this past September 2008 and MBT Shoes sponsored the walk and gathering at the pier. Over 14,000 people showed up.

Lucas Haas sang and Robert F. Kennedy spoke—he has been instrumental to protect our lakes and streams, as part of Riverkeeper.org. He's one of my heroes.

The event last fall was also sponsored by Segway.

What are your favorite sources of news and information on green issues?

I read American Forests and the newspapers and "The Week Magazine".

What other organizations do you support who are making a difference in this arena?

Riverkeeper, and the others listed on the BFD website

Any other projects you're working on right now that you're excited about?*

I'm very excited about Card Carrying Liberal.  The card carrying liberal is very important to me - the phrase "card carrying liberal" became used as a dirty word or an insult during the Reagan Administration.

Nevermind that our country was founded by liberals, my grandmother said if you have people who anger you or who you disagree with, or whose ideas you are against, try to plant a little seed of love in them. If there's goodness in them, it will grow.

For example, there is a goodness in Bill O'Reilly. I went on his show and talked about Card Carrying Liberal and Bicycle for a Day and he disagreed with me on some things, but admitted I was a patriot.

Matthew Modine is a member of Causecast, as well as a Causecast leader. To learn more about Modine and his projects, check out Bicycle for a Day, Card Carrying Liberal and Matthew Modine's personal website.