A Decorah resident and a Minnesota resident will be biking across America for Citizens' Climate Lobby

Mindy Ahler, Regional Coordinator for Citizens' Climate Lobby, and Ryan Hall, AmeriCorps alum and climate activist, will be setting off on a bike tour across the United States in order to educate communities on climate change as well as lobby to legislators about a carbon tax.

A resident of Edina, Minnesota, for the past few years, Ahler has worked to set up an office for the Citizens' Climate Lobby in Decorah.

Ahler and Hall will be hosting a FUNdraiser and send-off party before heading to Washington State to begin their 11-week ride, which will end in Washington D.C. in early November.

Along the way, Ahler and Hall will be stopping in communities to give presentations on climate change, in order to persuade citizens about the necessity of a carbon tax and dividend. According to Hall, a carbon tax on fossil fuel production will "give back" to U.S. citizens who have been paying taxes which have gone to subsidies for fossil fuel producers.

Citing the current U.S. political climate as evidence, Hall believes that the time is right to generate this discussion.

"If we look at the political cycle now, I have a feeling that more people will be showing up at the polls come November," Hall said. "It's important that we mobilize people into caring about this issue at this point."

Despite good timing, Hall and Ahler recognize that the issue is sensitive, and that many people have built their lives on fossil fuel production.

"We don't want to be there to wag our fingers; it's gonna require time and effort to transition," Hall said. "We don't want to get rid of anyone's jobs or well-being but my hope is that we can establish this tax so that it goes back into renewable energy over time, and creates jobs that are truly sustainable."

When it comes to the actual cycling, which is meant to be an example for alternative modes of travel, Ahler has experience riding long distances, but Hall is taking this ride on as his first bike tour.

"Decorah has been a great place to train and prepare for this ride, but we also have a great amount of people behind the scenes, all over the country, who will be helping us with places to stay, and getting us fed, so luckily it's not all individual effort."

Hall said that he expects some communities to be more receptive to their idea than others, but hopes that they can share their message in an unbiased and humanitarian manner.

"The most important thing is that this ride and lobby is not political, it's rational," Hall said. "Climate change is the most important issue. It's not partisan or ideological, it's a human issue and to a greater extent, an earthly issue."

For more information, or to support Ahler and Hall's ride, visit tinyurl.com/LCCride