Why Cynthia Rides

This is Cynthia and her son, Adam. They were out for a leisurely ride on Prospect Park West along with Cynthia’s two older daughters, who were on their own bikes. Cynthia just graduated from a paralegal studies program and is looking for a job, which, as she told me, is like a job in itself.

Cynthia, a Park Slope resident, was an occasional cyclist a few years ago and then didn’t bike at all for a few years. I think being busy with raising three kids and going to school had something to do with that. She recently started biking again as a way to get more exercise, and has rediscovered a love for riding in the city. She also loves her new bike: “It was a gift from my husband. Best birthday present ever!” More than just exercise, she found that it’s a great way to spend time with her kids.

She was also pleasantly surprised at how much of the bike infrastructure has been updated during her hiatus. The increasing network of bike lanes makes her feel safer. Her opinion on the Prospect Park West reconfiguration is unequivocal: “It’s about time. It was much more dangerous here with the three lanes of traffic.” And despite his somewhat sullen expression, Cynthia assures me that Adam is a fan of the bike, too. “Oh, he loves it. I do all the work!”