The Mobile Bike Shop at Lake Montebello in November
By Liz Cornish, Executive Director
In a year where everything could have fallen apart, I watched so many positive things at Bikemore come together. We served more people through our programs than ever before. We experienced significant policy wins that helped maintain transit service and access to safe streets in a time when people need it the most. We endorsed and elected a Mayor who brings great promise to the office when Baltimore needs it the most. None of this would have been possible without the hard work, creativity and commitment from the Bikemore staff, Clarissa, Jed, Jeffrey, Joshua, and Menelik.
I was moved seeing so many volunteers turn out to deliver food by bike to neighbors in need for our incredible partners Civic Works, the Franciscan Center, United Workers, and Bmore Community Food. One volunteer, Gail Betz described in our video about the program how she is often excluded from opportunities to provide emergency support due to being visually impaired. But since she bikes to work, this was a way to give back that she felt comfortable doing. That story encapsulates the duality of this year. The challenges and sadness of food insecurity made worse by the pandemic contrasted by beautiful acts of compassion from people eager to help.
That community spirit of giving back was also evident in our annual food drive and bike ride Cranksgiving. I was unsure how realistic it would be to pull off a large scale team event while still adhering to the safety measures necessary to minimize the risk of exposure to Covid-19. Despite moving registration online, we hosted 220 riders, slightly more than last year. Riders delivered over $2000 worth of groceries to Moveable Feast and Franciscan Center where the demand for their food has increased dramatically.
And the most beautiful thing of all this year was seeing so many people biking. Thousands of people got out on two wheels either for the first time or since they were a kid. Bike shops ran out of bikes. Trails and bike lanes saw more users than ever. It demonstrated the utility and universal appeal of biking. It was something that brought joy into people’s lives and allowed people to safely be together.
It was scary to steward a nonprofit during a time of uncertainty. But the thing that kept me going was the responsibility I had to ensure Bikemore’s work continued. That we kept fixing bikes, teaching people how to get around on two wheels, giving food to people in need, ensuring that people who relied on transit weren’t left behind, and electing people to office who shared our vision of a City built for people.
I am filled with gratitude for the people who supported us and allowed us to remain focused on keeping people safe, connected, and healthy during a year where those things were not guaranteed. These challenging times will not end on January 1st. But this year has proven that we can rise and meet the moment.
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