Cycling is a big part of my life, for both recreation and transportation. As manager of health partnerships for the American Lung Association in California, I work with health organizations and medical and health professionals to support strong clean air and climate policies, including promoting cycling for clean air and healthy lungs. My interest in cycling began 25 years ago while organizing fundraising bike rides for the Lung Association (Two Rock N Roll and Breathe Easy Ride) and partnering with the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to support the ride. My involvement in cycling and the coalition’s mission grew from there. I served on the City of Santa Rosa’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for two and half years and organized community support to advocate for bike lanes on Mendocino Avenue which became a reality in 2011. One of my goals on the board is to ensure the long-promised “Community Connector” – a bicycle and pedestrian Highway 101 overpass – becomes a reality. I also would like to see the traffic light at Humboldt Street and College reprogrammed to default immediately to cyclists.
I am a proud grandmother of four grandchildren and have introduced all of them to bicycling via my two-seater bike trailer.