This op-ed was written by UVM student Aimee Byrne as part of a public communications service learning project.

As a student at the University of Vermont in Burlington, walking and biking is a big part of my daily life as well as my friends’ and it's an integral way for us to travel around the city and visit places like classes, jobs and friends' homes. As much as I enjoy using my feet and my bike to travel, it's also important for me to feel safe while traveling without a car through the city.

This op-ed was written by UVM student Tatum Lewis as part of a public communications service learning project.

Winter riding in Vermont is difficult, but there are many advantages to taking on that challenge.

This year, Local Motion worked with thousands of Vermonters to build a culture—and environment—where safety comes first. With support from the Agency of Transportation's Vermont State Highway Safety Office, we:

• Taught 10,173 youth hands-on bike safety through Bike Smart and reached over 10,559 students
• Delivered 55,547 hours of safety training
• Provided for free 1,489 safety tools including helmets and lights
• Supported 32 communities with walk/bike technical assistance, supporting local safety improvements and infrastructure planning
• Helped more than 7 towns implement new safety projects

Local Motion advanced Vermont’s commitment to safer streets and stronger communities through hands-on education, engagement, and technical assistance. With support from the Vermont State Highway Safety Office, we equipped thousands of Vermonters—especially youth and vulnerable road users—with the skills, confidence, and tools to travel safely by bike and on foot. Our programs not only changed behavior but also helped communities make lasting improvements to infrastructure and culture that protect all road users.

Keep reading to learn What these programs are, How we implement these programs, Who is affected by our programs, and When and Where our programs took place.

Bike riding is an intensely physical activity, but it can also be very emotional. Over the years I have felt many strong feelings while riding.

Today is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day held to honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by roadway crashes.

Local Motion and our partners in the Transportation for Vermonters alliance are working to make Vermont safer for those biking, walking, and rolling. We have made strides, but there is more to be done. You are an important part of the conversation.

Local Motion's Complete Streets team is continually working to create safer, connected communities. Those connections are physical - safe routes for those biking, walking, and rolling. They are also emotional - connected communities gather together. Complete streets are for everyone and every community. Streets constitute the majority of public space in our communities and determine the feel of our villages, towns, and cities. When they're dangerous, our communities aren't safe and cannot thrive. Complete streets prioritize safety and comfort, connect people to destinations and to each other, and enable vibrant community life.

Two new resources are now available to help create these connections in your own towns:

On Saturday, September 28th, I rode the Fall Fundo. It is a fundraising event for Old Spokes Home and it raised a lot of money this year! They provide free and reduced priced bikes to those in need. Over the years I have been in a few Fundos, each of which have been very different. I did the 100k ride my first time out, and was lost for much of the time, although I did eventually catch up with some people. I rode the last ten miles with Glenn and his partner Mary. Glenn used to own Old Spokes Home. He sold me my first Vermont bicycle 45 years ago when he worked at Skirack. I rode one year when it was raining during the entire event. I was miserable and I got lost. I decided never to do a rainy Fundo again! Last year I did the 50k route and it was a tough ride, with two difficult hills. I wrote about it in a blog post.

This summer I turned 69. I am in the evening of my life. I hope the last part of my life will be as filled with light as this photo! I have had many years of biking and distance swimming. I have done a couple of centuries and a climb to the top of Smugglers Notch. My riding has taken me on thousands of miles of roads, mostly in northwestern Vermont. I have done many open water swims, including a four mile swim in Lake Champlain.

On a warm afternoon in Montreal’s Mile End, I step onto Rue Bernard and find myself immersed in something quietly radical: a street reclaimed for people. To my left, a half dozen café terraces bustle with chatting patrons awaiting their food. To my right, bursts of public art and spontaneous performances animate the walkway. There are flowers, shaded seating nooks, green spaces, and more.

And all around me: no cars. Not one.