As Arthur C. Clarke pointed out, “How inappropriate to call this planet ‘Earth,’ when it is clearly ‘Ocean.’” The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a fascinating place, sure. It’s also a leader in stirring people to take better care of the earth.

For example, the Aquarium’s ocean plastic pollution education helped California become the first state in the U.S. to ban single-use carryout bags, through the passage of Proposition 67 in November 2016.

The Aquarium knows that transportation is a major contributor to climate change.

Taking action on climate change.

See MBA’s Climate Action for the Ocean.

To reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants, the Aquarium urges its staff and volunteers to bike, walk, use transit, or carpool. See how in “We’re taking action on climate change.”

But what about the bigwigs at the Aquarium? Bet they drive to work every day, eh?

What they do when no one is watching is what really tells the level of commitment that the Aquarium leadership has about taking action on climate change.

And sure enough, on a chilly, dark evening, on a fairly isolated road, I came upon a guy whose high-visiblity vest and bright rear light were the only reasons I noticed him. And who was that guy, pictured above?

Out biking his talk was Monterey Bay Aquarium Communications Director Ken Peterson, an Aquarium staffer since 1989.

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Update: See the June 1, 2017 statement by Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, on the decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on global climate change: http://futureoftheocean.wordpress.com/2017/06/01/on-climate-we-stand-with-the-state-of-california-and-the-global-community/

In 1984 I became a charter member of the Aquarium, and I deeply appreciate the Aquarium’s education and advocacy regarding climate change and other earth care issues.

Scroll below the photos for related tips.

Related info on Bicycling Monterey

• Climate Change – Bicycling is part of the mix in climate hope
• Bicycling and ecotourism / good earthkeeping right at home
• Bike to the beach–and care for what you love
• We’re all heroes on this bus
• Bicycle advocacy: What you can do
• Former ER doc attending to the health of the planet: Blessed Earth

• Night Ride Home

• Tips for Bicycling Monterey County guide‘s section 19. Night Rides / Biking in the Dark

• Sarah Factor’s Bike Story

• Tips for Bicycling Monterey County section 5. Bike-and-Ride Options: Bicycling Needn’t Be All or Nothing!

• Tips for Bicycling Monterey County section 3. Bicycle Riding Skills, Bike Safety, and CA Bicycle Laws–for Children, Teens, and Adults

• Monterey-Salinas Transit: What to do when bike racks on buses are full, or when there’s no rack on an MST trolley. Plus many more MST tips!

• Lighthouse Avenue, Monterey: New bike parking – Plus sidewalk riding and other tips

• Bike for Sustainable Seafood

• Wheel the Earth, a Monterey County Weekly history of the HER Helmet Thursdays project