Montreal professor who biked around the world has finally made his way back home

Twenty thousand kilometres and 403 days later, Dr. Larry Lessard has finally returned home in Montreal after biking around the world. The mechanical engineering professor’s mission – to spread the word on how we can save our planet through recycling.

“I just finished this one-year journey on my bicycle for adventure, but it was also to promote recycling and sustainability around the world,” said Larry Lessard, a Montrealer who biked around the world.

“I’ve been observing recycling and how it’s done in different countries, how they are using wind energy and solar. So, this was basically a learning experience for me to, not just for me teaching.

“If I can show that I can do something difficult, then people can do something simple like eat less meat or not drive so much. So, if I can do something difficult at age 63, then everyone can do their small part.”

His specialty: reusing composite materials like fiber glass – which are known to be difficult to recycle. As part of the Bike62 initiative, Lessard has visited 28 universities to talk about renewable energy and recycling in North America, Europe, and Asia. The professor recorded his journey in Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Canada, USA, Turkey, Sweden, Denmark, and France.

“I’ve been trying to inspire students and other people that they should be doing their part to save the planet. Because I’m an engineering professor, I have influence on young students and engineers that I have given lectures to; trying to encourage them to get jobs in recycling and sustainability instead of going to work for big oil or some other place like that,” said Lessard.

The professor says it was also a learning experience for him to see how recycling works in other countries.

“The way that works in an advanced country like Denmark is vastly different than what happens in Vietnam. And it’s important to realize that all of these things are really connected. The garbage in Vietnam is partly caused by our desire to have cheap clothing in Canada or the United States.”

Lessard plans on starting another journey on his bike. This time, in South America and Africa.

“It’s not the end of the adventure, it’s the continuation.”