Danger at the Start

May 19: "The cyclist, a woman in her early 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene near the intersection of Beacon Street and Charlesgate West, Boston Police Officer James Kenneally said" (Boston.com).

The Boston cycling community is saddened by this loss, especially with the timing being at the end of the annual Bay State Bike Week. Recent data has shown that cycling accidents in Boston commonly occur "on Massachusetts Avenue, between 4 and 7 p.m., to men between the ages of 18 and 34 years old. And they are most often caused by cyclists running red lights" (Boston.com). However, the good news in the study showed that as the number of cycling related accidents in the city remains the same, the number of cyclists are increasing. Accidents such as this one further propel more community advocacy surrounding cycling safety and urban planning in Boston, rather than deterring bikers from riding in our home city.


I'm sure you've heard about the tornado which struck Oklahoma yesterday. In about a month, my team will be biking through the center of Oklahoma, and we'll be just ten miles of the devastated town of Moore. Yes, we are riding through tornado alley.

"So far, they've found that the tornado spanned 1.3 miles -- the length of more than 22 football fields lined up end-to-end -- carving a 17-mile path of destruction" (CNN).

As everyone boarded the plane this morning, the Zooey Deschanel flight attendant asked each passenger, "You traveling for work or play? Work or play?" I answered "Work," which was odd because my carry-on item was a CamelBak and not a briefcase. But after reading the news about the destruction caused by the tornado, I was reminded that Bike & Build is about helping others, and affordable, safe, sustainable housing is now needed in Oklahoma more than ever. While I'm going to have fun on this trip, the recent natural disaster came at such an opportune time - reminding me why Bike & Build's work and can-do spirit is so important just when I'm having pre-trip last-minute nervousness. Despite the recent cycling accidents and tornadoes, I'm still going to face this summer's challenges head-on.