As I reflect upon my time at Bikemore this summer , “ transformative ” is the best word that comes to mind . No amount of research into bike advocacy and community organizing could have truly prepared me for this internship . Before I began working at Bikemore , I admittedly knew very little about its work in Baltimore City . The journey was challenging and not without its fair share of ups and downs , but after just a few weeks , I confidently see myself as an advocate for Complete Streets that are built for people and not just cars .
My experience transformed my idea of community organizing . I ’ ve felt the temptation to define success based on whether a certain goal is achieved . But when it comes to community organizing , I ’ ve learned not to evaluate a project based on this metric . While working in Reservoir Hill , I formed some amazing relationships with neighbors who were incredibly invested in their community . I also had the privilege of engaging with dozens of people at events like the Druid Hill Farmer ’ s Market . Ultimately , we decided that our initial vision for the project likely wasn ’ t going to be successful . There may not be a finished product to show for our work just yet , but I now understand that the objective should really be interacting with neighbors and learning from them , rather than completing a to-do list exactly to plan .
Most importantly , this experience has transformed my vision of Baltimore City as a whole . While certain neighborhoods in the city are granted the resources and public forums necessary to advocate for what they believe is best in their community , other neighborhoods are rendered almost entirely voiceless . I ’ ve learned the importance of community input in any equitable process . I had the opportunity to witness City Council hearings , where advocates pushed back against the flawed notion that bike lanes render the Fire Department unable to fight fires in the city . I found myself becoming swept away by the passion of those around me to create that equitable process the city needs .
At first , I felt angry and helpless , but I ’ ve learned that those natural emotions don ’ t do anything to implement a real change . This summer has empowered me to transform my anger into determination and my helplessness into inspiration to advocate for positive change in this city .
• Organized Reservoir Hill neighbors in planning a public art project to gauge needs and desires of the community for an upcoming traffic study
• Planned the Big Jump Block Party for late August , commemorating the construction of a multi-use shared pathway along Druid Park Lake Drive
• Represented the rights of cyclists and pedestrians in Baltimore City at stakeholder meetings and “ get out the vote ” events
Community Partner : Bikemore Intern : Amanda Donoghue Site Supervisor : Liz Cornish
What is Bikemore ? Bikemore works to ensure our local leaders have a vision for Baltimore that includes increased mobility and makes livable streets a priority . We recognize that including diverse perspectives is essential toward creating political action that is inclusive and responsive to people ’ s needs .
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