Bikes Not Bombs has been instrumental in shaping my relationship to cycling. For so long I only ever thought of French men in tight little outfits flying through the countryside when I thought of cycling. When I bought my first bike as an adult in the summer of 2020 I was incredibly anxious to ride it, unsure of what I should be wearing or if I was even strong enough to make it up Comm Ave into Allston. My view of the bicycle's role in society has dramatically shifted for the better since I first rolled up to the Ride for Black Lives 3 summers ago. My experiences with BNB as a community member participating in protests on wheels, customer purchasing my first road bike, volunteer stripping parts, and person learning about the role of bicycles in creating upward mobility and social change in Black communities has made me a lifelong supporter. And at the end of the day the personal growth and change that I have felt with BNB is not the mission of the organization, but an amazing side effect of the phenomenal work they do. If you're reading this, I'm assuming you're reading it for me - so now that you've read my bit please take a look at their Mission & Vision page to see what your financial contribution will be truly supporting... and throw in an extra $5 once you see how important it is.