By Liz Cornish, Executive Director
Last Friday, when a portion of the Monument Street cycle track was removed to restore 12 parking spaces, we were all dealt a loss. But the next morning Bikemore was out with neighbors at the Boundary Block Party between Upton and Sandtown-Winchester fixing bikes. Beyond City Hall, off social media, people love talking about bikes.
I spoke to a man living in Sandtown-Winchester. He lost his son to violence in January and wants to organize a ride for peace. We fixed a bike for a mother who wants to open a wellness center that works to address trauma in her community. I talked to a city employee who uses a motorized wheelchair and wants more bike lanes, because that is where she feels comfortable and safe using the street.
A week before a public art project that Bikemore commissioned went up along the Big Jump. For a year and a half, neighbors and artists worked to conceptualize and create something that would cause people to slow down and look.
One of the pieces says “Trust Yourself.”
In the coming months we will be adding two new staff members so that we can fix more bikes and talk to more neighbors. We’re taking a risk growing our staff, but if the past week taught me anything it’s that fighting City Hall is not enough. We must do more, and for that we need your help.
If you were moved to take action last week, consider donating to Bikemore today.
Our work is about imagining a city where streets are built for people, not cars. We have a long way to go, but I have no doubt we are on the right path. Help us get there.