Like many people, I purchased a bike in April 2021 during peak pandemic. The immediate reason was to commute and get around while avoiding public transit, lowering my risk of catching or spreading COVID-19. But I quickly learned just how much I love cycling: it's great exercise, is the best way to get around Boston, saves money in the long run, and is, for me, a really wonderful destressor. Just ask those close to me: I don't shut about cycling and try to convince everyone I know, regardless of where they live, to get a bike.

When I recently visited Copenhagen, perhaps the second-best biking city on Earth, I was amazed. About half the population commutes every day via bicycle, so the city is structured around cyclists and pedestrians, not cars and trucks. The city feels happier and more functional, and is something I believe every city should strive for.

That said, not everyone has access to the relevant tools, training, infrastructure, or community (let alone just a bike) needed for this "cycling utopia", especially in urban environments like Boston. The goal of "Bikes not Bombs", the organizer of this fundraiser and event, is to "use the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South."

So I'm riding and fundraising to help Bikes Not Bombs achieve their goal and bring cycling, something I've come to love, something that's made me a happier and healthier human being, something that can genuinely make the world a better place, to everyone in Boston and beyond.

Anything you can offer, whether it be 1 penny, 1 dollar, or 100 dollars, makes a difference. I'm currently registered for the 63-mile route, but if you amazing people get me to my goal of raising $1000, I'll instead go for the 105-mile route, far more than I ever thought possible.