PRISTINE RIDERS SPEECH

Kent's speech upon being awarded the community impact report.

If I may, I would like to start with a quote of sorts from Chief Dan George from the film Little Big Man.  My heart soars like a hawk – when I go out on a bike ride and see absolutely no litter – none.  And believe me, I’m looking.

For those unfamiliar with our Pristine Riders program the genesis was my before work at RFTA rides up Capitol Creek road. Early morning after early morning I’d spot articles of rubbish along the roadway and I would always think to myself, what a shame this majestic drainage being sullied by mans’ unsightly cast offs.  Finally, it dawned on me that it was possible or me to do something about it – namely get off my bike and begin picking up the roadside rubbish.

Capitol Creek road above the turnoff to our Little Elk Creek subdivision was not too difficult to keep trash free but when I ventured further on my bike, the magnitude of the problem became evident.  So, I started seeking help by yelling at passing bike riders asking that they help me pick up trash.  My wife pointed out to me that as people were whizzing by they probably thought I was calling them trash and so was likely to get punched out at some point.

I said, “Well Dear, what would you suggest I do?”  She said she didn’t know but that I had better figure something out.  

Pristine Riders came to me as an epiphany.  I thought that if I could give away bike jerseys with a Pristine Riders motif, I could get some much needed assistance picking up trash particularly along biking roadways. So, with help from my nephew who designed the jersey, Mt Borah the company that made the jerseys, a number of very kind donors -  couple of whom are in the gallery today, the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus that allowed me to use their nonprofit status as a pass through and also contributed, and Basalt Bike that gave the jerseys away the program was up and running.  We gave away some 225 Pristine Riders bike jerseys!

My co – recipient Erik Skarvan read about Pristine Riders in the paper and asked that I be on his Grassroots show.  I gladly agreed hoping to reach as many potential willing riders as I could.  Well Erik was very taken with Pristine Riders and asked to become a partner.  What seemed to strike him the most was the notion that the program need not be a burden to anyone.  That if a sizeable percentage of local riders just start picking up one piece of trash each ride we can go a very long way of eliminating much of our unsightly rubbish.  

As my enthusiasm for the program was admittedly flagging after the eye opening task of seeking donations, having Erik essentially pick up the reigns was much appreciated.  He has created a Pristine Erik was the primary in getting non profit status for Pristine Riders.  Erik has also put together an annual Northstar one day trash pick up under the Pristine Riders banner.  He posts to the Facebook page regularly. He has proven to be a fantastic partner.

My role for the past few years has been to carry out the central mission of Pristine Riders, that is to try and pick up one piece of trash each ride.  I am happy to say that I have rarely wavered from that commitment – although some days I am certainly more eager to do what needs to be done than others.

Obviously, this is not the most glamourous enterprise the world has ever seen.  More than once I have gotten off my bike and clambered down a steep embankment only to find that the treasure I sought was a plastic bottle filled with urine topped off by tobacco juice!

From the “It can always be worse department, my Mother informed me that in Boulder County when disposal diapers first came out, scofflaws pitched them out of their windows seemingly everywhere!

Yes, almost daily ritual of picking up trash is pretty much a thankless job.  That is why when Pat Bingham contacted me about this nomination I was very excited and pleased.  I saw it as an opportunity to plug the program and it has gotten me to thinking about how to expand the program.  

I would like to see Pristine Riders get a cameo on a nightly news broadcast and I am in the process of  contacting ABC news to that end.  What I would like to highlight – if we get the opportunity is that Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley are blessed with a whole series of drainages feeding the Roaring Fork that make for unbelievable recreational opportunities – Difficult Creek; Hunter Creek; Castle Creek; Maroon Creek; Brush Creek; Woody Creek; Snowmass and Capitol Creeks, the Frying Pan River; the Crystal; Cattle Creek and the Four Mile drainage.  The beauty of each of these drainages is certainly enhanced when they are spotless!

Another tact that I think worth pursuing is asking companies that generate a great deal of the rubbish I see is to sponsor chapters of Pristine Riders in other locations – Coors; Budweiser, Modelo, McDonalds, Coke, etc. The cost benefit is really pretty remarkable – for the cost of a bike jersey in return the world gets a very loose commitment to try and pick up one piece of trash each ride for a lifetime!

Already I can envision Pristine Riders chapters in Boulder with the Flatirons as their icon, Colorado Springs with Garden of the Gods, and Grand Junction with the Bookcliffs.   God willing, in the years to come the concept of Pristine Riders will go national and then international.  We would like to see a reemergence of the program Lady Bird Johnson spearheaded years ago – Make America Beautiful.

Years ago while bike riding in Austria I was taken by how beautiful and trash free their country was.  It was inspiring – women in the smaller villages were out at daybreak sweeping up in from of their domiciles.  When I mentioned this to our youthful farrier Gabriel from Austria this summer he said laconically, ‘Yes in his country if people see trash they pick it up!’

An aspect of the program that I can personally vouch for is the centering that ensues by the simple act of picking up one piece of trash. Paying homage to our existence and the magnificence of our surroundings serves as an antidote to my anxiety and worry.  It is as if the earth is responding to my entreaty by providing a zen awareness of being – a priceless gift. Or, perhaps it’s just all in my mind but that’s OK too!

Thank you Pitkin County for this recognition – it means a lot to me.