by Stephanie Reed
My monthly gift to the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is my way to make this world a better place where we use less fossil fuel to get around, support new bike lanes, help create safer biking, and encourage bicyclists young and old to get out and ride.
One of the best gifts I ever received was a big girl Schwinn bicycle when I was eight years old. That bike was my ticket to independence, longer bike rides and exploring my young world.
Fast forward to when I was 24 when I fell madly in love and we decided if we were going to marry, we really ought to get to know each other better. We figured what better way than on a bike? We flew to Paris, bought a tandem and biked to Calais. From there we ferried over to Folkestone, England and headed north up the east coast. For the next nine months we cycled up to Scotland, across the neck to the Atlantic side, and down the west coast to Gatwick Airport. There we packed up our tandem and flew home. We had carried camping gear on the bike and at day’s end camped in farmer’s fields. We spent less than $5 a day.
Bicycling whenever possible has remained our core value wherever we’ve lived. It’s good for the environment, good for one’s health and offers an experience that’s actively engaged with where one lives. What better place to do that than in beautiful Sonoma County?
Please give thanks to the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition for all they do for us bicyclists with a recurring donation to insure a long-term, successful future and to keep this world a better place. With your recurring gift they can better carry out their mission to promote healthy and safe riding for everyone through advocacy and education.
