Portlander gets global attention for bringing pedal-power to Standing Rock

Cobb is name-dropped in a video published by CNN from Standing Rock that has over a million views.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Portlander Mike Cobb brought valuable cargo with him on his journey to Standing Rock in support of people fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline. It wasn’t food or jackets or blankets — it was the ability to produce electricity with a bicycle and a bit of pedal power.

Cobb is well-known in Portland for his bike messengering and extreme biking skills (he’s represented us at the World Cycle Messenger Championships and I ran into him on the Oregon Outback last year), his passion for the potential of cargo bikes during disasters (one of the main organizers of the annual Disaster Relief Trials), and his entrepreneurial endeavors in the bike industry (he’s co-owner of Framebuilder Supply).

Cobb has a passion for expanding the potential of what a bicycle can do. Given that, Cobb’s offering at Standing Rock comes as no surprise — but that doesn’t make it any less awesome. And what better way to promote the idea that bicycles can save the world than by getting major exposure on one of the world’s largest media outlets.

A CNN correspondent noticed Cobb’s set-up and published a video report about it thaty already has well over one million views:

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the brilliant utility of a simple bicycle help people stay connected in adverse conditions. We covered a similar situation in 2012 in Manhattan’s lower east side when bike-powered charging stations came to the rescue following Hurricane Sandy.

In a Facebook post, Cobb says he’s dedicating his entire trip to the unflinching support he received from his friends, business partners and co-workers. “This effort would be impossible without my people enthusiastically burning the home fires in my absence,” he wrote. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude and feel truly rich in community.”

Way to go Mike!

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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