VCCool is a prolific grass roots climate-change action group. We are dedicated to promoting a sustainable way of life through improved public policy, personal transformation, and a green economy. In addition to being the only group in Ventura that actively promotes bicycles as transportation, VCCool also works on such issues as city planning, public transit, clean energy, and local food production. Based in Ventura, CA, VCCool is a 501(c)(3) with an active Board, a passionate Executive Director, and a skilled Advisory Board. Our e-newsletter goes out 580 subscribers, and we typically engage 150 volunteers over the course of a year. 

Two friends started VCCool in 2007 in an effort provide a productive outlet for people inspired by “An Inconvenient Truth” movie. 400 people showed up to the Ventura Downtown Theater to share ideas and concerns, and VCCool was born.

Special thanks to Artists: Mark J., Rachel Pratt, Chris Young, Susan Bardsley, Rachel Morris, Kendra Gonzales, and Howard Miller. Photo by MarioFamoso Fotography.

VCCool’s base is predominantly the City of Ventura, but we are growing to include Ventura County on projects such our successful campaign against Texas Oil companies’ Prop 23, including getting 9,000 bilingual brochures which were distributed by CAUSE, and other voter groups. As a member of ASERT we are a key force in preparing for a 2012 transportation-specific sales-tax initiative in Ventura County.

The Ventura Bicycle Union (VBU), a program of VCCool, is one of our most active and effective groups. VBU is comprised of just over 90 bicyclists, and has been tackling bike safety issues and growing bicycle culture in Ventura since 2007. Our first effort was an all-day bicycle summit including a kids’ bicycle safety rodeo, a bicycle film festival, and a workshop with the City to discuss initial work on the 5 year master bike plan. The bicycle rodeo was a bilingual event with special attention to reaching out to the Latino community. Our goal was to bring their bicycle concerns to the table. We gave away 150 kids helmets that day, but to receive a helmet you had to fill out a bicycle needs survey. We were able to provide the City with more input in Spanish than they received in English from the low-income Ventura Avenue Community. Our members have had dozens of sit-down meetings with staff, written letters, and attended hearings and planning meetings where bicycle are at issue. We have met with Ventura Police about abusive behavior by motorists. And we’ve held fun rides and events to gradually increase the presence of bicycles in our community.