With wildfires engulfing the West Coast, it’s fair to say that climate change has been on our minds a lot lately -- especially after hazardous, smoke-filled air kept us inside for nearly two weeks last month.

Judging by the number of riders who reached out to check in, we’re pretty sure you’ve been thinking about this issue too. You may even be grappling with extreme-weather events yourself, whether they're hurricanes in the gulf or flooding in middle America.

I grew up witnessing the impact of irresponsible environmental practices. I spent my childhood in a northern California town that was off the beaten path and surrounded by majestic, old-growth redwood trees and foggy coastal ranges.

By the time I was a teenager, 95 percent of Northern California forests had become annihilated by a century’s worth of unsustainable logging practices, many of which continue today. Rivers were destroyed, species were displaced, and a very special place to me was robbed of its natural beauty. 

I started paying closer attention to what was happening to our environment. I made a commitment from a young age, that if I found something I was good at, I was going to use it to help the planet. 

From the beginning, Rad Power Bikes has always been more than an ebike company. We are a mobility company that is changing the world by introducing people and businesses to new ways of getting from point A to point B that are energy-efficient, enjoyable, and accessible to all.

As we work to reimagine a transportation sector that currently accounts for nearly 30 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, we’re encouraged to see that there’s a growing global appetite for change, especially as more individuals look for safe, healthy, and low-cost ways to move around and get outside during the COVID-19 era.

Cities everywhere are now rethinking public spaces. Parking lots are being transformed into playgrounds, avenues are being converted into makeshift sidewalk cafes, and congested city streets are turning into family friendly bike lanes.

We're witnessing this sea change among Rad riders as well. Every time they join us in opting for an ebike instead of a car, they’re reducing their carbon footprint with every mile on every trip. This really is a people led movement that all of us at Rad are giving everything we have got to support with the same passion we see in our customers. 

Obviously, there still needs to be big shifts on the policy front to get us all on a cleaner path, but when it comes to how the average American family spends their money, transportation usually ranks #2, coming in right behind housing costs. It’s no overstatement to say that committing to less time in a car is one of the most impactful things you can do as an individual.

Do you know what else is impactful? Your vote.

Regardless of your political affiliation, we can all get behind that freeing feeling an ebike brings. And whether you’re using it for fun, mobility, or to cut back on gas, we all know that it’s impossible to ride when the air is unbreathable or your region is flooded. That’s why we are humbly asking you to vote with the climate in mind next month. We’re not going to lecture you about who or what to support, but we are all in this together. Making the right choices will help get us out together.

And hey, if you’d like to learn more about what’s at stake for our planet, we’d love to direct you to some of the latest research compiled by NASA. It’s an interesting read and really brings it all home.