Press Release

For Immediate Release:

Biking for Obama on the Highway of Hope”

Who: Twenty-two year old Ryan Bowen describes himself as an Organizer and Photographer. He is a 2008 graduate of Occidental College (where Obama began his first two years of college). During his Senior year, Ryan served as President of Associated Students of Occidental College.

What: A personal voyage across the nation to ride his bike and spread his own hope that  people can be the change that they have desperately sought after.

When: December 2, 2008-January 20th 2009

Where: On December 2nd, Ryan Bowen began his approximately two-month-long journey through the Southern Tier of the United States of America. Starting in Los Angeles, California, his ride concludes January 20th in the nation’s capital for the Inauguration of Barack Obama.

Why: President-Elect Barack Obama’s message of hope and progress inspired Los Angeles native Ryan Bowen to take on the monumental task of biking across country.  Pedaling for progress and cycling for change, Bowen and friends will document the American people’s experiences and reactions of the election through photographs and video interviews. His 50-day journey will take him through 13 states through the South and up the Atlantic Coast. Bowen and friends look forward to this life changing journey and encountering the diversity that makes up America. Since the beginning of his trip, Bowen has been collecting the various perspectives of numerous Americans along the way in order to provide an account of their post-election reaction, hopes, and fears. Through photojournalism, blogging, and interviews, this journey will capture America’s shifting landscape and serve as a marker for this momentous time in history. Bowen’s primary goal is to unite the American people and encourage them to be the architects who construct the Highway of Hope. Ryan would like to start a national dialogue that does not sugar coat the issues, but instead one that challenges injustice, oppression, and racial realities head on in order to make change together. From the mountainous West, through the rustic South, and up the Atlantic Coast voices will be heard and lives will be touched. As President Elect Barack Obama states, “Change can not come from Washington. Change must come to Washington”.

Currently he has crossed the South and is starting his journey north to Washington D.C.  Over the past month Ryan and fellow riders have encountered ferocious bike chasing dogs, been hit by a pickup truck, and dodged fruit and other items thrown from passing cars.  But what stands out is the kindness of strangers no matter their race, political beliefs or financial abilities. His route will continue north along the east coast. Major Cities he still plans to ride through are:  Callahan, GA, Folkston, GA, Patterson, GA, Reidsville, GA, Statesboro, GA, Savannah, GA,  Augusta, GA, Yemassee, SC, Walterboro, SC, Charleston, SC, Andrews, SC, Pleasant Hill, SC, Conway, SC, Shallotte, NC, Wilmington NC, -Richmond, VA, Fredericksburg, VA, Washington D.C.

Interviews: Ryan Bowen is available for interviews during and at the completion of his journey across America. For interviews and further information on this monumental and inspirational expedition please contact him at by phone or email.

Received Press:

**As of January 28, 2009**

January 28, 2009
Climate Justice Now “Biking for Obama” article by Ariana de Leña
http://climatejusticenow.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/biking-for-obama/

January 22, 2009
Oprah and Friends:  Dr. Robin Smith
http://www.oprah.com/media/20090121_oaf_20090121_oaf_rs

January 21, 2009
ABC News 20/20
The (Long) Road to the Inauguration

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6701431

Los Angeles Times
“Celebrating, working, struggling on the big day” article by Peter H. King

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-moment21-2009jan21,0,5049863.story

Star News, Wilmington N.C.,
“Inspired by Obama, cyclist riding from L.A. to D.C.” article by David Reynolds,

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090112/ARTICLES/901122988?Title=Inspired_by_Obama__cyclist_riding_from_L_A__to_D_C

BikePortland.org “Blumenauer lends a hand to Obama bikers” Blog Post by Jonathan Maus (Editor)

http://bikeportland.org/2009/01/21/blumenauer-goes-biking-for-obama/

January 20, 2009
The Peninsula, Qatar
“Biker for Obama braves winter tour across continent” Source DPA

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Americas&month=January2009&file=World_News2009012085833.xml

January 19, 2009

CNN i-report http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/ireports/2009/01/19/ireport.documenting.inauguration.cnn

The Oregonian (Newspaper)  “Mixing a little public good with the inauguration’s excess” article by Charles Pope http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/01/washington_thousands_of_people.html

20minutes.fr
“Il «roule» pour Obama” article by Laura Desjardins

http://www.20minutes.fr/article/290427/election-usa-Il-roule-pour-Obama.php

The Earth Times
Biker for Obama braves winter tour across continent – Feature

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/251277,biker-for-obama-braves-winter-tour-across-continent–feature.html

eYugoslavia.com, Serbia
“Biker for Obama braves winter tour across continent” By Vasilije Gallak
http://eyugoslavia.com/general/19/biker-for-obama-braves-winter-tour-across-continent-223612/

January 18, 2009
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
“Cycling cross-country for Obama” article by Olivia Hampton

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090118/ts_alt_afp/uspoliticsinaugurationcycling;_ylt=AvBd5pob3poF9YJJXEZ1AIvZn414

BikeRadar.com
“Cyclist completes Obama-inspired cross-country trek” by AFP

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cyclist-completes-obama-inspired-cross-country-trek-20005

January 5, 2009

Public Radio International: Phone Interview on “The Takeaway” with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji.
It IS about the bike: Ryan Bowen’s cross-country journey to the inauguration http://www.thetakeaway.org/stories/2009/jan/05/it-about-bike-ryan-bowens-cross-country-journey-continues/

Tuesday December 23, 2008

National Public Radio: Phone Interview on “Talk of the Nation” with Neil Conan
Who’s Coming To Washington For The Inauguration?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98647934

Superill.net
Biking for Obama: This is ILL!
http://superillblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/biking-for-obama-this-is-ill.html

January 5, 2009
WBUR.org Boston’s NPR News Source
Interview on “Here and Now”
http://www.here-now.org/shows/2009/01/20090105_13.asp

December 25, 2008
Boston Globe
“Inauguration-bound on 2 wheels and a lot of hope” Obama inspires 4,000-mile trek.  Article by Peter H. King
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/12/25/inauguration_bound_on_2_wheels_and_a_lot_of_hope/

December 22, 2008
Public Radio International: Phone Interview on “The Takeaway” with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji.
Inauguration or bust: From Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. by bike

http://www.thetakeaway.org/stories/2008/dec/22/inauguration-or-bust-bike/

December 21, 2008
Fox Cable News Phone Interview on “Fox and Friends”
http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=3348820&referralPlaylistId=playlist

December 13, 2008
Los Angeles Times Article by Peter King
“Headed to the inauguration on two wheels, a hope and a prayer”

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-moment18-2008dec18,0,6163973.story

December 2, 2008
NBC 4 Los Angeles News Feature Biking for Obama

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Biking_for_Obama_Los_Angeles.html

Contact

Rider:                Ryan Bowen │ 503.888.1987
ryan@bikingforobama.com

On-Road Support:          Eleni Polakoff │ 626.394.1776
eleni@bikingforobama.com

Documentarian:        Albert Vazquez │ 714.926.8367
albert@bikingforobama.com

Representative:        Julian Mitchell │ 818.859.6585
Mrhardwrk@gmail.com