Share This Campaign:
Our Story
In June of 2011, a team of four cyclists will ride across America to share the Alabamboo story. The Alabamboo initiative is a growing movement to bring sustainable bamboo production to Alabama, thus strengthening the economic and social fabric of the rural south.
We will converge in Greensboro, Alabama and build bicycles from Alabama-grown bamboo. We will then pedal west for two months, stopping at various locations to shed light on Alabamboo, sustainability, alternative transportation, and the benefits of bamboo all in the hopes of shaping a positive future.
The Impact
We are planning to build a workshop in Greensboro, Alabama that will be the future home for building Common Cycles. This facility will create jobs and empower local residents with access to affordable and sustainable transportation options. The bamboo bike facility and cross-country bike ride is a small part of what Alabamboo is aiming to accomplish. We've partnered with Marsha Folsom, wife of former Alabama Governor Jim Folsom, to develop this ride as one part of a much larger bamboo initiative. Marsha is helping lead a movement to have bamboo grown as a sustainable agricultural crop in Alabama in partnership with Washington-based Booshoot Gardens. Booshoot has developed technology to produce bamboo tissue culture for propagating bamboo rapidly at a large scaleand Alabama is ripe for growing it. We branded the initiative "Alabamboo" as the first step to making Alabama mean bamboo the way Florida means oranges, Idaho means potatoes and Maine means lobsters.
Project M, Alabamboo and Common working together
The Alabamboo bike ride is a joint effort between these three initiatives. Our action is a living embodiment of the power of collaboration.
ABOUT PROJECT M
Project M is a collective of designers and creative doers who develop ideas to improve the world and work together to make them happen. Weve delivered supplies to Hurrican Katrina victims, opened a pie shop and community center in rural Alabama, built a horseshoe park in Detroit, protested in Iceland, inspired bankers in Germany, and provided clean drinking water to homes in needjust to name a few. Many of these projects have been covered by the New York Times, GOOD, Fast Company, and numerous design publications.
ABOUT ALABAMBOO
The United States is the largest importer of bamboo in the world, with no domestic, commercially available supply of its own. Our goal is that Alabamboo will one day represent the largest domestically available resource. Bamboo is a valuable and sustainable alternative for many products including textiles, wood floors, furniture, and paper products. It is also one the most efficient carbon-sequestering plants in the world. There are many misconceptions about bamboo and the truths make it more of a miracle plant than a nuisance. There is already a growing movement taking place in Alabama and we want to be a part of sharing the story.ABOUT COMMON
COMMON is one part community, one part business prototyper, and one part collaborative brand. COMMON is a living network of creative people rapidly prototyping dozens or hundreds of progressive businesses designed to solve social problemsconnected to a brand thats community designed, community owned, and community directed. Were confident that benefiting people, communities, society, the environment and future generations is the new advantage in business. Were launching the COMMON CYCLES brand in support of this transition from competitive advantage to collaborative advantage.
What We Need
With 5 core riders, we are asking for enough money to complete the construction of our team bikes and to help sustain us on our journey. We are also looking for equipment, clothing and food sponsors, places to stay during our trip, and any other ways to help make our trip and its impact legendary (like an electric support vehicle).
Other Ways You Can Help
Help spread the word via Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other media outlets.
More Info About Project M
Project M
New York Times
GOOD
Fast Company
Communication Arts
Metropolis
More Info About Thinking Wrong
Video interview w/ John Bielenberg
Team on This Campaign:
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Marc O'BrienTeam Alabamboo
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Brian W. JonesTeam Alabamboo
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Nicole LavelleTeam Alabamboo
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john66Team Alabamboo
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Jason "Vernal" DilworthTeam Alabamboo
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Rose LavelleTeam Alabamboo