In Appreciation: Nicole Freedman

Nicole Freedman, cycle czarina hither inwards Boston for 7 years, is headed off to Seattle to Pb their Active Transportation initiative. Almost single-handedly, she transformed a real cycle unfriendly metropolis into ane that--subject to the limits of a cow-path formed streetscape--is much to a greater extent than conducive to urban wheelers.  As she notes inwards her farewell letter:

I am proud of how much nosotros convey accomplished together for cycling hither inwards Boston. Since launching nosotros convey added 92 miles of bike lanes in addition to nearly 2,000 bike racks. We convey an accolade winning Community Biking Program which has donated 4,015 bikes in addition to trained 23,000 youth. And of course, the New Balance Hubway organization has transcend away a novel Boston institution.

I commencement met Nicole when she was visiting a patient inwards our hospital.  She was introduced to me yesteryear our Chief of Medicine, Mark Zeidel, a menage unit of measurement friend.  Mayor Thomas Menino subsequently offered her a pose inwards his admininstration, in addition to she got to operate quickly.

A few months later, she came to me wondering how she mightiness teach the Boston expanse hospitals to contribute to Hubway,  a serial of bike rental depots to live on located at fundamental points throughout the city.  "How much is each bike stand?" I asked.  It was $100,000.

Understanding the competitive nature of our industry, I said, "I tin guarantee participation yesteryear every infirmary inwards town."  She looked stunned.  I said, "We'll fund 2 stands on our 2 campuses. All you lot convey to create is telephone telephone the CEO or COO at every other infirmary in addition to country them that BIDMC has committed to the Mayor's novel bike program.  They volition right away bring together in."  Sure enough, inside 2 weeks, she had plenty commitments to transcend away on amongst the program, anchored yesteryear bike stands at the city's hospitals.

One of Nicole's fundamental programs was Hub on Wheels, a daylong biking romp through neighborhoods of the city.  It attracted thousands of riders.  After participating the commencement year, I realized that it had insufficient medical coverage along the route, in addition to so nosotros volunteered to prepare tents amongst doctors in addition to nurses at fundamental locations, along amongst ambulances donated yesteryear Cataldo Ambulance Service.  We too fielded a squad of riders from the infirmary staff, including that real Dr. Zeidel (seen left, inwards xanthous slicker) who had made the initial introduction.

We were encouraged to create all this yesteryear Nicole's vibrant energy, enthusiasm, in addition to adept humor.  Others throughout the metropolis likewise pitched inwards to assist or participate.  Even Mayor Menino was seen on a bicycle, although he confided to me that he was, er, less than comfortable sitting on a bike for an extended menstruation of time.  (I'll transcend on the exact terminology he used!)  In short, Nicole demonstrated what ane committed mortal tin gain for an urban area.  We all want her good inwards Seattle!

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