Dear family, friends, and community,

In May, I am biking from Boston to Montréal, Quebec covering 400 miles over five days to support the Boston Cyclists Union (BCU). This weeklong bike tour is known as Bos/tréal and is organized by the BCU to fundraise for safer, more equitable, and accessible spaces for all cyclists in the city of Boston. Your donation would go towards supporting Bos/tréal’s expenses and BCU’s initiatives for safe street advocacy, sustainable transportation, and climate change mitigation policies.

The BCU is meaningful to me as the organization centers on community-building efforts where people from all walks of life are accepted and empowered to advocate for a better biking infrastructure so that we can all freely and safely move through our neighborhoods. By collaborating with city officials and community partners, BCU identifies dangerous areas and proposes infrastructure improvements to further connect Boston’s growing bike lane network.

The journey from Boston to Montréal:

I am among 40 riders who are training together each weekend from March through May beginning with a 30-mile ride and gradually working up to 100 miles cycling throughout Massachusetts. Each training session building up to the trip to Canada is my longest distance covered. This training season will be an incredible opportunity to unlock personal achievements, embrace new challenges, and connect with my community and BCU organizers. BCU selected Montréal as our destination as this is one of the most bike-friendly cities in North America, prioritizing sustainable transportation. There is so much to learn from the progress being made there from bike lane expansion projects and the creation of more accessible routes.  Once in Montréal, we will visit McGill University to learn strategies in building a bike network and apply this to Boston’s bike lane protection initiatives. We will also network with bike advocates & transportation planners, and go on a bike tour to see the progress being made in Montréal’s bike infrastructure.

Boston is a city I love where I’ve gained so much appreciation for its vibrant arts and culture, scenic views, and independence to boldly explore and challenge myself. I see the immense value in making transportation accessible to all primarily through cycling so that everyone can equally experience and see the beauty each city offers, which is a core pillar of BCU’s mission and which I stand by. I would like to express the deep care BCU is giving to our city and how far reaching BCU initiatives are not only in Boston but to all corners of the world who can see their efforts bearing fruit. I envision through my involvement in this year’s journey I can share my experiences and learnings about this endurance ride and come out stronger than ever.

Please support me in reaching these milestones:

• April 14: Raise $950
• May 23: Fully raise $1900

As my gratitude I have a few rewards available for those who make a donation:

Donate $10 & Above

Send me your email address and I’ll send a post-trip summary with photos!

Donate $20 & Above

Same as the $10+tier as well as:

• Postcard from Montréal and a drawing of the sights during the bike ride

Donate $50 & Above

Same as the $20+tier as well as:

• A surprise trinket from Montréal and a handmade gift (e.g. knitted or a small painting)

Corporate donation matches are welcome! BCU is a 501c3

I will add photos to this fundraising page during the training course to update you all on my progress.

I look forward to connecting with you during my training rides and after I return from my trip =) !!!

All my best,

Jennifer

Update 6/4:

To my supporters, I sincerely thank you for your donations to help reach my fundraising goal. I successfully completed my bike trek through Vermont to Montreal. In Montreal, our group connected with bike advocates and transportation planners on building safer biking networks in Boston, toured the beautiful city, and returned home safely this past weekend. 

This experience has been so precious to me as I met inspiring leaders and organizers who’ve shown me genuine care and support through the toughest moments of this journey. I thank the BCU and all the volunteers for welcoming me on this trip and teaching me the skills I need to safely and confidently navigate on a bike. Just a year ago biking alongside cars had been so intimidating, and cycling long distances seemed a far reach. Yet through BCU’s mentorship and this opportunity I’ve overcome such fears and gained immense strength to go on extreme mileage. I encourage you to engage with your community and promote a more sustainable environment through biking.

Please continue to support the amazing BCU and our shared mission to protect our bike culture and infrastructure. Donate

Note for those waiting for your reward described in the above mentioned tiers, the hand made gifts are work in progress and I will reach out within this month to send out.
 

With deep gratitude,
Jennifer

A bit more about BCU:

BCU pushed forward infrastructure projects in 2024 including the installation of protected bike lanes in critical high-crash areas such as Newmarket Square on Massachusetts Avenue, and dedicated traffic signals along Boylston Street, a vital corridor in the heart of Back Bay. These initiatives are deeply rooted in and made possible through advocacy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries through the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, and leveraging seat in GoBoston 2030 to influence the City transportation plan in which cyclists can freely move without any barriers. Learn more about the BCU campaigns here.