In addition to all the good exercise, biking, for me, is important because it's a way to claim the streets for the more vulnerable moving objects out there - not just bikers, but pedestrians, the disabled, children, and those connecting between different modes of city transport. Streets that are safe and accessible for a variety of transport methods enable all of us (not just those of us enveloped in personal capsules of metal, glass, and plastic!) to get around more easily, enjoyably, efficiently, and perhaps healthfully - and give options for getting from A to B, so we can choose the method that best suits our needs.

LivableStreets Alliance is making streets in Boston safer and more accessible not only for cyclists like me, but for those taking public transportation, walking, and who knows what else! (Just this morning I shared a 30 m stretch of bike path with a skateboarder, two roller bladers, a pedestrian with her dog, and a horizontal bike!) Through supporting more inclusive and considerate road behavior and better infrastructure for these forms of mobility, the Boston area can become a healthier, happier, and more equitable place!