City of Seattle Awards Cascade $92,000 to Reduce Food Waste through Pedaling Relief Project
- Pedaling Relief Project wins $50,000 grant from Department of Neighborhoods, $42,000 from Seattle Public Utilities.
- City’s financial support empowers Cascade Bicycle Club to rescue and deliver food while reducing carbon emissions and fighting food insecurity.
Paul Tolmé
The City of Seattle is partnering with Cascade Bicycle Club to reduce food waste, fight food insecurity, and reduce carbon emissions by rescuing and delivering fresh produce, bread, and other edible goods by bike in support of Seattle food banks.
Two city agencies have awarded more than $92,000 to support Cascade’s innovative Pedaling Relief Project, which uses bicycles to rescue food that is edible but no longer sellable from multiple Seattle grocery stores and farmers markets and then bikes it to food banks for re-packing and delivery to the homes of food bank clients.
- The Department of Neighborhoods has awarded the Pedaling Relief Project $50,000 from the city’s Food Equity Fund.
- Seattle Public Utilities has awarded Cascade $42,097 to support the Pedaling Relief Project’s work with Byrd Barr Place Food Bank and farmers markets.
“The Food Equity Fund is thrilled to be able to invest in Cascade Bicycle Club’s Pedaling Relief Project,” says Jenifer Chao, director of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. “Not only does the program build meaningful community amongst volunteer riders, but its unique model supports some of our incredible food bank partners to deliver fresh produce to families in Seattle, all while reducing our carbon footprint.”
Food is the largest component of Seattle’s garbage and a major greenhouse gas contributor.
“Seattle Public Utilities is proud to partner with the Pedaling Relief Project,” says Andrew Lee, CEO and general manager of Seattle Public Utilities. “Reducing food waste, improving food distribution, and cutting carbon emissions are consistent with our ‘Zero Waste’ vision. We’re very pleased that our partnership is teaching us how to build new, sustainable models for food transport and benefiting people struggling with food insecurity.”
More than 1.5 Million Pounds of Goods Biked Since 2020
Begun in 2020 when food banks experienced a crisis of need due to the pandemic, Cascade Bicycle Club’s Pedaling Relief Project organizes teams of volunteers who use bicycles and electric bikes pulling cargo trailers to rescue and collect donated food from farmers’ markets, grocery stores, and other locations. Collectively, Pedaling Relief volunteers have biked more than 1.5 million pounds of goods over the past five years!
By using bicycles and pedal power instead of motor vehicles and fossil fuels, the Pedaling Relief Project reduces traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling the climate crisis.
Bicycles are ideal for these rescues and deliveries in dense Seattle neighborhoods because they require no parking spaces and can more quickly navigate congested city streets than motor vehicles. The bicycle-powered deliveries also reduce food bank transportation expenses.
“Cascade Bicycle Club is excited to rescue food and deliver grocery donations across Seattle,” says Lee Lambert, Cascade’s executive director. “This partnership aligns with our goals to establish long-term community resiliency and sustainability through bicycling. Our team of volunteer bicyclists is ready to reach neighbors facing food insecurity quickly and efficiently.”
A National Model for Cities Seeking to Reduce Waste and Traffic Congestion
Lambert calls the Pedaling Relief Project "the largest bicycle-powered food rescue and transport effort of its kind in the country" and “a national model for how cities can partner with bicycling nonprofits and food banks to address food insecurity and reduce waste.”
The University of Washington's prestigious Urban Freight Lab included the Pedaling Relief Project in its research paper "Biking the Goods," which presents the Cascade initiative as a national example of how cargo bikes are being used to serve an important public need.
Learn more about the Pedaling Relief Project and sign up for a food rescue or delivery. Cascade provides volunteers with bike trailers that can be attached to just about any bike.
Watch our video of Pedaling Relief Project riders rescuing and delivering food.
If you have a bicycle or e-bike and want to support our overburdened food banks while getting exercise and making new friends, the Pedaling Relief Project is your chance to do community service by bike.
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