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

Burlington has long prided itself on being a community that values sustainability, equity, and active living. Yet in recent years, as traffic grows heavier and the cost of car-centric infrastructure mounts, the question of how we move around our city becomes more urgent. Amid this challenge, Local Motion—a small but mighty nonprofit—has emerged as one of Burlington’s most important changemakers.

Local Motion's work is deceptively simple: make it safe, accessible, and fun for everyone to bike, walk, and roll throughout Vermont. But their impact is anything but small. From advocating for safer streets, to installing green bike lanes, to educating youth cyclists, the organization is quietly reshaping the way our city thinks about transportation. They do the unglamorous work-meeting with city officials, gathering community input, analyzing crash data-that ultimately improves everyday life for residents.

Take the Burlington Greenway, once a patchwork of crumbling pavement. It's not that Local Motion championed its transformation—they helped create the cultural shift that made public investment in active transportation possible. And now, one of Burlington's most beloved public spaces is this lakeside path that locals and visitors alike can walk, bike, rollerblade, or simply take in the view. It didn't appear by accident. It appeared because people insisted that our public spaces should serve everyone, not just cars.

But Local Motion's value goes beyond infrastructure. Their programming builds community and confidence. When a child joins a bike skills course, or a new commuter borrows an e-bike to try cycling to work, they are doing more than learning. They're discovering independence. They're finding joy. They're proving-often to themselves-that sustainable transportation isn't an abstract environmental ideal; it's achievable, personal, and empowering.

Yet Burlington stands at a crossroads. Despite progress, treacherous intersections remain. Sidewalks stay uneven or nonexistent in critical locations. People with disabilities confront impediments. And many Vermonters have yet to be convinced that biking is safe or a practical way to get around. Convincing more people to walk and bike involves changing more than infrastructure; it requires a shift in culture. That's where Local Motion excels.

Their advocacy reminds us that a safe street isn't a luxury; it's a right. Their education programs show that a city that moves together grows together. Their vision of a connected, human-centered Burlington is exactly the direction our community must head if we want cleaner air, healthier residents, and a more affordable transportation future.

Supporting Local Motion isn't just about supporting cyclists. It's supporting families who want safer routes to school. It's supporting elderly neighbors who deserve accessible sidewalks. It's supporting the small businesses that thrive when foot traffic replaces car traffic. It's supporting the idea that the way we move through our city can-and should-reflect our values.

The best future for Burlington isn't one that's built around asphalt and exhaust; it's built around people. And Local Motion is helping to lead the way.