I rediscovered cycling after a long hiatus during college. I was working long, extremely sedentary hours, and it was having a pretty miserable impact on my mental and physical health. A hand-me-down hybrid bike from my uncle in 2017 helped me turn that around. Living in Jamaica Plain, (a neighborhood with what is easily the best cycling infrastructure in Boston) made it easy to rebuild my confidence. For the first time, I saw what a city designed for people, not just cars could feel like. That’s why I’m riding to Montreal—not just for the challenge, but to support the Boston Cyclists Union, an organization making cycling safer and more accessible for everyone.

The BCU advocates for protected bike lanes, better street design, and policies that prioritize cyclists and pedestrians. They work with city officials, organize community rides, and empower residents to push for safer, more accessible streets. Their efforts help create a more sustainable, equitable, and bike-friendly Boston, ensuring that biking is a viable option for everyone—not just the bold or the lucky.

If you’ve ever talked to me for more than five minutes, you know how I feel about bikes (God’s perfect ambulatory device) and the infernal sprawl, pollution, and chaos cars have wrought upon our cities—an asphalt hellscape we’ve been told to accept as normal, I’ll keep this short.

Cars shape our cities and the way we interact, for the worse. They isolate us, turning streets into battlegrounds instead of gathering places. The prioritization of car travel over other forms of transportation has led to urban sprawl, dangerous streets, and a culture that values "efficiency" over community. Boston is an especially wretched example, as a city that predates the Automobile a lot of its character has been stripped to make space to park cars or sit in traffic. 

Real efficiency isn’t just about speed; it’s about how well we use our time, space, and energy. It’s about getting ourselves where we need to go without tearing ourselves apart in the process. Bikes embody that. They move people using a fraction of the resources required for cars, take up minimal space on roads and for parking, and eliminate the waste of sitting in traffic. They don’t just save money; they save cities from congestion, pollution, and the ever-growing demand for more roads and parking lots. In an urban environment, they often get you where you’re going faster than a car, but more importantly, they do it without all the unnecessary waste.

So, I’m biking 400 miles to Montreal to take on this challenge and support a cause that matters. Every bit helps! whether it’s a donation, sharing this post, or just cheering me on. Thanks for your support!

Now, I know what you’re thinking ”That all sounds well and good, Jacob, you get to go to Montreal and the BCU gets to raise funds, but what's in it for me?”

That's why I would like to offer, to the first 20 Donations of over 50 dollars, a limited edition block print, the design of which is still yet to be finalized, but expect something between Boston and Montreal, think maple, the outdoors, bikes, camping, mountains, un peu français, et…poutine? I want to come up with something based on the ride. To everyone else I can offer my sincere thanks, and updates on my fundraising goals and the ride itself. 

Thank you all again so much.