I will be riding for the fourth time in the annual Bike-A-Thon for the organization Bikes Not Bombs on September 10, 2023.

This organization provides bicycles to communities where basic transportation provides the difference between a job and unemployment. It trains kids in the basics of bicycle repair and provides the bike, tools and parts so they can fix and maintain a bicycle. It sells refurbished bikes to make affordable reliable transportation available in the Boston community. Please visit their website to learn more about this wonderful organization. (https://bikesnotbombs.org/)

There are a number of reasons to encourage cycling and the bike lanes and bike paths that enable safe biking:

• Exercise

• Reduced pollution

• Affordable transportation

• Just being outdoors

Since retiring, my cycling has become less about commuting. After adding a used mountain bike to my “fleet”. I discovered what I should have known all along: a bike with panniers is great for shopping trips, coffee runs, volunteer projects and visiting friends.

I ride to raise funds so that others can receive the simple freeing and enabling gift that I have been privileged to enjoy: a bicycle.