Molly’s Safer Route to Work — and Why Bikes Alone Aren’t Enough

I want to share a quick story about the people I have the privilege to work with.

Editor’s note: The photo shown here is not Molly, but another great story we’ll share soon.

Molly was referred into our Bikes for Neighbors program already riding daily to work. She was on a clunky department-store bike—heavy, slow, and uncomfortable.

When I brought her one of our refurbished bikes, I told her, “Try it for a couple days. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll swap it.” Because when I walk into a bike shop, I get choices. I want folks in our program to have that same dignity and agency.

A couple days later, she texted me and—sure enough—we swapped bikes.

Then I learned she was riding straight down Route 11 on the south end of Harrisonburg every day with tractor-trailers flying past. So one morning I rode with her to work and showed her a safer way: through JMU’s campus, the Bluestone Trail, and past Public Works.

Four miles, almost all of it without cars. She was relieved and excited.

The heart of the work

This isn’t just handing someone a bike. It’s making sure people have options—and that they can use that bike safely and conveniently.

• Sometimes that means riding alongside them.
• Sometimes it’s teaching how to lube a chain.
• Sometimes it’s helping them see how the bus and a bike can work together.

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