About

Â P.E.A.C.E. SCOOTER
A Patriot’s Exhibition Advancing Community and Environmentalism, on a Scooter

22k Mile Scoot for Peace from Alix Bryan on Vimeo.

In August 2008, the largest Peace sign in history was created. Alix Bryan drove 22,000 miles on a 125cc scooter (a riding mower has more horsepower), her route “tracing” a Peace sign onto the U.S. map. The ride, which started and ended at the White House, took six months to complete and went through 29 states.

“We must know what the word means before we can acquire it,” Bryan says, “and lasting Peace must always come first from the individual.”

Proving that women can safely travel alone and that little scooters can do big things, a Patriot’s Exhibition Advancing Community and Environmentalism (P.E.A.C.E.) on a Scooter is focused on promoting peace rather than specifically opposing war. To illustrate the importance of community, Bryan volunteered with organizations around the country;Â serving meals, loading disaster relief supplies and assisting at a recycling center.

In March 2009, U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich personally acknowledged Bryan for her, “outstanding efforts to bring a message of Peace to our nation.”

You can find press and interviews about P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER by following these links:
CNN
KOMO News, Seattle, WA
WKYC, Cleveland, OH
STRCST.COM
HAPPY NEWS

Backstory:
In 2007 I purchased my first scooter, a 49cc Honda Metropolitan. This was logical progression for me, a two wheel advocate, who had been cycling to get everywhere since 1998. My friend had just bought one, I took it around the neighborhood and decided a scooter was going to save me time without compromising my environmental transportation credo.Â One spring day in late May 07, after what was my longest scooter ride yet, 30 miles, I decided I would take my scooter around the country to promote Peace.

The week before, at an art exhibit, I had seen a John Lennon quote that really affected me. “If a billion people were thinking about Peace, there would be Peace in our world.” I realized that defining Peace was not easy, but very important.
People will say, “Oh, Peace is impossible.”
But before one can draw that conclusion, they must know what it IS to know we can’t have it. Sadly, many people who diss on Peace have no idea what it really is. But then again, how many of us really DO?

So I decided that Peace really needed to be put on the U.S. map. Literally. I announced this idea to my friends and yes, they thought it was just a joke. Within 2 days I had purchased an atlas and began to piece together the route. The next question was to do this on a 49cc or acquire funding for a bigger scooter?

My research led me to the Genuine Scooter Company.

I decided that the amount of miles in the creation of this Peace sign would require a bigger scooter. Possessing little mechanical knowledge led me to a scooter that had won performance reviews and had a 24hr roadside assistance package, 2 year warranty. I began “training” by riding my 49cc 120 miles roundtrip, to Scoot Richmond. I checked out the Buddy125 and knew that was my steed of choice. A letter was penned to the company and within 12 hours of sending it, I had confirmation of Genuine’s assistance. It was a good letter, I guess. (genuine.rtf )

I knew the trip was going to happen, I just did not know how. I had no gear, no money, no dogsitter, no camera-just some bizarre idea-that I believed in with all my might. Thankfully, my friends chipped in with their various talents and within two weeks the buzz began generating. Once this website went up, there was no looking back. Within 40 days of the plan’s conception, I was suddenly packed up and on the road!

There I was, suddenly on an open road with 22,000 miles ahead. My mom was panicking; I had no experience long distance scootering and still no funding. Just a plan to ask hundreds of Americans how they define Peace and how they would teach it to their children. Not the most popular time to do this, it seems, while in the middle of a war. To me, however, it continues to be the most necessary time to do this. The idea, “Point Two fingers, not one,” popped into my head.

Instead of focusing on differences (for us or against us) I decided to focus on how we can make a difference. My focus is personal peace–I’m not asking what you think about the war or the next Presidential candidate. You can, of course, leave comments about that stuff. P.E.A.C.E Scooter is just a genuine act of showing love for what we have here in America, despite all the goofs, while asking you what you think this one word, Peace, actually means.

Truly wanting to do my part in improving the world, P.E.A.C.E Scooter is also a fundraiser. What started as a little plan not even one year ago has changed my life. P.E.A.C.E Scooter is many things: an art project, a demonstration, an endurance test, a documentary hopefully, a fundraiser.Â Simply, it is a way to promote peace with every mile.
Thanks for reading, Alix

22 Responses to “About”

Reiki Revolution. | 7Wins.eu
June 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

[…] Worley Gig » Blog Archive » GIBSON GUITAR ANNOUNCES JOAN JETT SIGNATURE MELODY MAKER GUITAR About - A P.E.A.C.E, SCOOTER: A Patriot’s Exhibition Advancing Community and Environmentalism… Tags reiki healing reiki master reiki attunement reiki class reiki symbol reiki for reiki healing […]
Episode 69 - PEACE Scooter Celebration at ScootRichmond | SCOOTERCAST Scooter Internet Radio
August 12th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

[…] of you who have been following the show or watching the web know that Alix Bryan has been traveling around the US this summer talking with people about Peace and answering all […]
aunnabear
September 9th, 2008 at 11:27 am

this is awesome!11
The Art of the Possible » Blog Archive » Mundus vult decipi
September 27th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

[…] on the road. Stopping only for winter, the trip itself took 6 months to complete; it was a 22,000 mile journey around our country. At journey’s end, the largest Peace sign in history was created;Â driven […]
The Second Road Family » “The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks. “
October 20th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

[…] week she told me that she was impressed her that I completed the 22,000 mile ride for Peace on the scooter. “That takes determination, perseverance. I just wish….” […]
Sophie in the Moonlight
March 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

Alix, Welcome home from a mission that was actually accomplished and for all the right reasons.

My definition of peace? hmmmm… Y’know I was a Sociology major and I struggled with this one for a long time. How does any country of good conscience allow violence and repression to exist in another country without using force to repress the violence and get citizen representatives of each gender, race, and creed talking about how to resolve their differences and let every citizen feel they were giving the best of themselves for the betterment of their communities and their culture.

In the end I came to this definition: peace is acknowledging the sentience of all living things and doing my best to support a climate of welcome and understanding for the place each sentient being holds on our beloved planet. I cannot force my ideas of equality on others, but I can encourage organizations and official representatives to also adopt a spirit of understanding and non-violent resolutions. I practice this idea with my sons and with all I encounter. I like to think/hope that peace is contagious.
Sherrlyn Borkgren Photography
April 29th, 2009 at 10:53 pm

I am with you. It’s always the little things that make me realize how far from being peaceful I am sometimes. Just when I think I got it down I lose my temper or do something to ruin the almost perfection. God\’s peace to you!
Justin Fisher
May 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pm

Alix, Hey I forgot to ask you when you were here if you could post a link to our store on your blog and site??? I’d really appreciate it. Hope all is well with you! Site is Vespaportland.com

Best Regards,
Justin (Vespa Portland)
admin
May 28th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

Hey there Justin, hope you are well!
I put up a link. Thanks for your help.
Angie Maya
July 1st, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Hi Alix
hope you are having a good trip! I really admire what you are doing, this quick note to let you know we were surprised to see the top case on such a nice cause..peace.
Please let me know when you are in Miami, come visit us at Shad offices. Anything you may need for your case let me know.
Sincerely,
Angie Maya
Shad Motorcases
Miami, FL
Julie
August 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

Thats not actually the quote from John Lennon… its close but its actually “if everyone demanded peace instead of a new television set there’d be peace”
David Reese
November 28th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

My definition of peace? People like you!
NormaJean Toler
January 21st, 2010 at 10:24 am

hey peace is where you find it. be it in your heart or the hearts of others who talk to you and give you hope. we cannot ever have peace till we accept ourselves as who we are and share that with others. we are peace. we are a piece of what we were put here for… now share it and go with peace. normajean
bill
March 1st, 2010 at 1:29 am

P.E.A.C.E Scooter is just a genuine act of showing love
admin
May 11th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Julie, I saw that quote in a certain context, as the Instant Karma art exhibit. I’ve searched for it too and can’t find it. I know P.E.A.C.E SCOOTER was inspired by what I read at that art exhibit.
custom essay writing
May 24th, 2010 at 4:27 am

Hi Alix
hope you are having a good trip! I really admire what you are doing, this quick note to let you know we were surprised to see the top case on such a nice cause..peace.
web hosting pakistan
May 24th, 2010 at 4:31 am

Itâ€™s always the little things that make me realize how far from being peaceful I am sometimes. Just when I think I got it down I lose my temper or do something to ruin the almost perfection.
Acai Berry
June 19th, 2010 at 5:20 am

This is one of the best posts that Iâ€™ve ever seen; you may include some more ideas in the same theme. Iâ€™m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post.
Acai Berry Diet
June 19th, 2010 at 5:28 am

Hey this is really nice information. I was looking for something similar like this. Thanks for this useful information.
Bathroom Store
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:15 am

Hi Alix,

Just wanted to say you, have a safe trip and enjoy every bit of your tours….

All the very best in life ahead.

Kind regards,
SÃ¡ndra
Heathrow Airport Transfers
June 23rd, 2010 at 6:29 am

Hi,

I will ask Jesus help you all the way until you are back home happily….All the best

Cindrella
Ritchie's Auto Service/Concord, NC
July 8th, 2010 at 8:01 pm

I sell Peace Scooters at my shop (Ritchie’s Auto Service) in Concord, NC. I know you are experiencing a great ride on your Peace scooter, they are great bikes. Best wishes to you and be careful.

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WALL OF BELIEFS

Add your own...

Peace...
I have to borrow in part from MLK.
Peace is not the absence of tension; but the presence of balance in our lives. It's that balance that we feel when someone smiles at us from across the table as we share a meal... we experience a quiet moment that fills our heart with Hope for Humanity.
charles
I've been asked for "my" definition of PEACE. Peace--to me--is the absence of chaos. It--is not peace between nations, continental powers, political movements. My control over those is insignificant.

Peace is you and me. It is a loving meeting of my mind and yours. It IS, in fact--love. It is thinking of you first, before me. It is caring, nurturing, supporting another. Peace and love are "action" words. I have experienced a huge amount of this love at home and away from home the past five weeks. I experienced that "peace which surpasses all understanding" while traveling and meeting people (scootering) through five states.

On my final ride, the last 50 miles home, I was overwhelmed with the feeling, the knowledge, that I had been so loved in so many ways...accepted, tolerated, fed, "coffee'd", housed, and treated as an equal among equals, no matter what.

Again, for me, "peace" and "love" are so closely related as I might think of the genetic togetherness of identical twins.

The following quote sits on the desk of a long-passed friend of mine. It was meant as a definition of "Humility". As I read, it usually produces a benignancy, replacing immediately any disturbances which found their way into my heart.

"Perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me.

"It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and pray to my Father in secret and be at PEACE, as in a deep sea of CALMNESS, when all around and about is seeming trouble. "
Steve E
Peace & Unity... Only Love can set you free !
Amritesh Kala
be cool...be respectful...be peaceful
deborah
Deborah Batcha
peace is the science of right human relations; living in right relations with self, others and the environment; peace is not the absence of violence, nor is it the opposite of war; peace is the dynamic presence of truth, justice, and loving cooperation; peace is a world that works for everyone
Dot Maver
peace is acknowledging the sentience of all living things and doing my best to support a climate of welcome and understanding for the place each sentient being holds on our beloved planet. I cannot force my ideas of equality on others, but I can encourage organizations and official representatives to also adopt a spirit of understanding and non-violent resolutions. I practice this idea with my sons and with all I encounter. I like to think/hope that peace is contagious. :)
Sophie in the Moonlight
"Peace exists when different desires are in 1 agreement. when desires refuses compromise, the clash of desires can escalate to the clash of arms and clash of civilization" -Austin Bay, a nantural security specialist.
anna
Peace is the absence of obsession. When absent objectivity blossoms and a doorway opens to connect with each other as well as with that which could not previously be seen. Work to identify obsession its root and its influence in our life and those we can care for.
d
Peace is the alignment of the head with the heart, the heart with the head, and the spirit moving in both.
Daphne
Even during the wrath of the myraid cosmic winds, the attacks by earthly being's desires, or the depths of eminant death and despair, one mind stays perfectly still and bright, this is everlasting peace.
mindtraining
Peace is being left blissfully alone.
Nayagan
Peace
"Just What It Is"
Silence,Serenity,Stillness
of Hate
Eager to Love
Accept & Relate
to Everyone
without Debate
Regardless of Race
Religion & Regulation
Peace is the Ultimate
Form of Elation!
Tammy Tuthill
Personal peace is feeling content and happy in the moment. More difficult to obtain is the larger peace, in which everyone is able to feel this way.
Jeremy
Virginia welcomes you and salutes you. How can we get Alix nominated as ABC News 'Person of the Week' ?
Andy
Peace is knowing you finished this inspiring journey safely!
John A.

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