Madi McBride

The Wave Makers

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
75 THIS WEEK
366 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

45

miles

traveled by bike
UP TO

42

pounds of CO2

have been saved
UP TO

800

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

2.0

public officials or leaders

contacted
UP TO

2.0

advocacy actions

completed
UP TO

120

minutes

spent outdoors

Madi's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Food Waste

Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Land Sinks

Explore My Area

Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 60 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Express My Support For Equitable Biking Infrastructure

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will find out who in my city makes decisions that impact bike routes and express my support for better biking infrastructure.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transportation

Go by Bike

Bicycle Infrastructure

I will commute by bike 2 miles each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

COMPLETED 9
DAILY ACTIONS

Industry

Trash pick up

Go for an hour-long walk once a week to pick up garbage in my local area.

COMPLETED 5
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Madi McBride 10/31/2025 8:43 PM
The eco challenge has been a really positive experience for me. It's pushed me to take a closer look at my daily habits and think about how I can improve - not just for the environment, but for my own well-being too.
One of the best parts has been connecting with other people who share my values. I've met folks who are equally passionate about making Santa Cruz more walkable and bike-friendly. These connections have been energizing - it's one thing to care about better infrastructure on your own, but being part of a community working toward the same goal makes it feel more achievable. One thing I've learned is how to weave eco-friendly actions into things I'm already doing. For example, I started bringing a bag and gloves on my daily walks to pick up trash along the way. It doesn't add much time or effort since I'm already out there, but it makes a visible difference in my neighborhood. Finding ways to layer these habits onto my existing routine has made them feel sustainable rather than like extra work.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

How does using human-powered transportation make you feel compared to using other methods of transportation?
Madi McBride 10/31/2025 8:21 PM
I really enjoy biking; it makes me feel great. I love exploring little side streets and neighborhoods that I'd never see if I were driving.
The other thing I've noticed is that biking helps me decompress. Having that time on the bike before and after going somewhere gives me space to clear my head, and I think it's really helped me.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What do you like most about biking in your city? What would you like to improve?
Madi McBride 10/31/2025 8:15 PM
There is a lack of bike safety infrastructure. I enjoy biking as my commute, but it hasn't been very safe. I contacted my district supervisor and the leader of an advocacy group for turning the rail corridor into a multi-use path.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?
Madi McBride 10/31/2025 8:11 PM
I would rather use that money to travel or enter more triathlons.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Madi McBride 10/31/2025 8:07 PM
On my walks, I've enjoyed exploring my neighborhood more. I've noticed a lack of pedestrian infrastructure, and sidewalks would be great. In many areas, I had to walk in the road because there were no sidewalks, and cars were parked on the shoulder. It would also be beneficial to have more crosswalks with clear signals and accessible routes for people with mobility issues.

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