As an avid cyclist Lucinda Cave’s final project for her Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith combined her passion for environmental justice and her love of cycling. Lucinda struggled to decide on a project, but when the class watched Ayanna Elizabeth Johnson’s TED talk on finding the intersection of what brings you joy, what skills you possess, and what needs to be done, something clicked. Lucinda decided to lead a local effort improving biking infrastructure in her town of Cleveland, OH.

Pollution from automobiles account for 28% of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions . Choosing a bike instead of a car for just one trip each day reduces the average person’s carbon emissions from transportation by 67% ! Not to mention that biking can improve a person’s heart, lungs, sense of balance, and weight management.

However, not everyone is able to access these benefits. Due to under-investment in low-income communities and communities of color, many people in Cleveland cannot bike safely. Cleveland’s Superior Avenue has the distinction of being the highest crash street in a city with a fatal crash rate three times the national average – decidedly NOT a great place for bike commuting.

Lucinda was already active in Bike Cleveland, a bike advocacy organization, but the Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith inspired her to assume a leadership role in a major bike infrastructure project in Cleveland – the Superior Midway.

Lucinda explains, “The Superior Midway project will be a two-mile separated bike track through the middle of Superior Avenue – the high crash street. It will run from an area that has suffered historic under-investment, past many places of work, worship, school, business and recreation, right into downtown. It will be separated from motor traffic by median strips of greenspace. Trees will be planted where possible. The cross streets with traffic lights will also have lights unique for cyclists. This should help reduce crashes”

Working with other members of Bike Cleveland, Lucinda met with neighborhood residents, business owners, and current cyclists to gather their feedback. They have even secured funding because the project will greatly improve the air quality.

Lucinda doesn’t have an expertise in urban planning or civil engineering, but she brings unique listening and community-building skills to this work. Skills she has honed through a career in nursing and as a leader in her congregation’s Creation Care team. She found the perfect intersection of her skills, her passion, and the needs of her community.

“Eventually, the Superior Midway will become an important part of the bike infrastructure in our city, that will: increase environmental justice, improve our health and safety, all while decreasing CO2 emissions and mitigating climate change!”