Bicycling

My NYC Biking Story: Dr. Jen Petersen

Riding a bike is a big part of Dr. Jen Petersen's daily routine, and it also plays a significant role in her academic and professional careers. Her 2011 dissertation toward a Ph.D. in Sociology, "Whose Streets? Paving the Right to the City," was largely influenced by riding her bike on the changing streets of NYC. Jen now provides consulting services to help cities and organizations grow while achieving sustainability goals.

By Robin Urban Smith

2:34 PM EDT on June 27, 2012

Riding a bike is a big part of Dr. Jen Petersen’s daily routine, and it also plays a significant role in her academic and professional careers. Her 2011 dissertation toward a Ph.D. in Sociology, “Whose Streets? Paving the Right to the City,” was largely influenced by riding her bike on the changing streets of NYC. Jen now provides consulting services to help cities and organizations grow while achieving sustainability goals.

In addition to her consulting work, Jen also operates a freight trike for The City Bakery. She deals with the daily logistics of transporting food, baked goods, and supplies from bakery to bakery with human power — which, as it turns out, is the most efficient mode for this neighborhood-scale operation. Of course, one of the perks of driving a freight trike for The City Bakery is the fuel: a hot-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie.