roads for bikes
The eastern and western snowplows met last week, but the gates were still locked, which could only mean one thing; Washington State’s seasonal Highway 20 was unofficially open to bicyclists for one weekend only. Free of snow and motor vehicles, the North Cascades Loop provides 60 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing for those ambitious enough to go all the way from Ross Lake Dam Trail to Washington Pass (or vice versa). There really is nothing else like it.
Last Sunday, I finally got to cross this car-free scenic mountain bike ride off my to-adventure list. Still in recovery and out of long-bike-ride shape, I opted for a shorter but still respectable distance of 35 miles - a choice that ensured the fun stayed solidly in type 1 territory. It was utterly glorious, the kind of day I will return to again and again when I think about the best days. Even during the lower moments on the illusory climbs, I couldn’t stop saying “We’re so lucky to live here” and whooping with delight on the descent.
While time in the mountains (especially when the weather is perfect!) never ceases to renew & restore, what has maintained my post-ride buzz most is the collective joy of everyone out there. Everyone was BEAMING. I found myself waving at friends and strangers alike, unsure if I knew the person beneath the helmet and sunglasses but confident they, too, felt lucky to be in such a heavenly place.
For me, it was a visceral reminder of why I love riding my bike, and why I have made a career out of making sustainable transportation more accessible for everyone. My experience last weekend was not novel, in that I have experienced versions of similar jubilation at other group rides & open street events. There’s a feeling of reclamation and subversion. I read once that riding a bike is the most joyful form of resistance - a loaded word right now, but I think the point stands.
I could write way too many more paragraphs about this (and maybe I will at a later time, when I am not traveling again and exhausted from said ride). But before I climb down from my soapbox, I’ll leave you with this: over a century ago, roads were paved largely thanks to advocacy from the cyclist community. Sharing the road with different people on different modes of transportation is essential for the future. There are proven ways to design roadways that prioritize modal safety and efficiency (roundabouts are an excellent example). Reducing vehicle dependency is good for one’s budget & health & also the planet. Riding bikes with family and friends is undeniably fun. And -
Streets are for bikes just as much as they are for cars.
good things on the internet
a good thing in real life: this sticker. I don’t get it but I love it
Image description: A black sticker with white text on a metal utility pole that says “Mary Oliver is gangstalking me.”
currently reading
House by Tracy Kidder: A random used book store find, in which the rather dry premise of describing the construction of a New England house in the 1980s is outdone by the compelling execution. Surprisingly enjoyable.
Locke and Key series: A beautiful example of comics as powerful storytelling.
“I wake up at odd hours, usually at two a.m., and fall back asleep around five or six. Every morning, I have to convince myself that my mom is dying. I don’t want her to die, but grief is a kind of love and all love will drown your heart in an acid bath at some point or another.”
this week’s jam
i fear this will be my most played song of 2025
photo of my cats
