A bike brigade of more than 200 activists strong took to city streets Saturday calling for G-8 Summit leaders to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
Bikes littered the grass at Prince's Island Park as the group of cyclists gathered in the late afternoon sun to paint each other green and pull green nylons over their arms and helmets.
By dressing as frogs, rally organizer Yori Jamin said the group is able to draw parallels between global warming and dropping a frog in a pot of cold water and slowly heating it up, creating a state of contentment while the warming water slowly kills it.
"This is what is happening to our planet and everyone seems pretty happy about it," said Jamin, who rides his bike to work everyday.
"Our message is 'it's time to ratify the Kyoto protocol and turn off the heat'."
About 30 participants rode to Calgary from other cities in western Canada for the environmentally friendly rally, including a group of nine from Saskatoon.
Angela Altrogge arrived in the city Saturday with the Saskatoon contingent after 650 kilometres and eight days of riding.
"All and all it was a good bike ride here and we're planning on staying the week to urge G-8 leaders to sign the Kyoto protocol," said Altrogge.
Canada has yet to decide if it will sign the international accord that calls for industrialized countries to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-12.
Several of Calgary's media outlets turned out in force to cover Saturday's protest, one of many to come this week when G-8 leaders meet in Kananaskis on Wednesday and Thursday.
Police also had a presence at the ride, although most of them happened upon it as it moved from Eau Claire Market into Kensington and through the streets of downtown.
"We're here doing traffic patrol because Memorial (Drive) is down to one lane both ways, we didn't know they were coming," said one Calgary police officer as he held the lights on green for the block-long brigade to pass through.
Most of the riders will be participating in a parade scheduled for today.
Meanwhile in Ottawa, about 150 demonstrators marched in an anti-G-8 rally that went from the National Gallery through the Byward Market near Parliament Hill Confederation Park. The march went ahead without incident.
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