To support my wife, and others living with multiple sclerosis

When my kids were young, my URI Theta Chi Fraternity brothers, Paul Lambert ’79 and Steve De Angelis ’80, invited me to join them in what was then called the MS 150, a two-day, 150-mile bike ride to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. They knew I rode to work every day and they thought I would have a good time. But between travel soccer, Cub Scouts, school stuff, and trying to keep up with everything else, I just couldn’t fit it in.

Even after my wife, Pam, was diagnosed with the disease in 2002, I couldn’t join the ride because I was still involved with coaching and other activities. But six years ago, I took part in my first Ride the Rhode Bike MS event, and it was life changing. Pam, who exhibits more courage in a day than I do in a year, volunteered at my first ride and cheered as I came in at the end of each day. She has cheered my finish at every ride. And Paul, a fellow 1979 URI grad and fraternity roommate, continues to ride with me. Steve, who served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Rhode Island MS Chapter, has had some injuries and surgeries over the past few years and hasn’t been able to ride. But he is always at the finish line to congratulate us. I have also been touched by the generosity of friends, family and Rhody work pals, whose donations have helped me raise $7,157 for MS research and support. 

For the last several years, the ride has been based at URI, with Dining Services providing great meals and Housing and Residential Life providing overnight accommodations to those who need them. I am proud that Sheri Davis and Rhody’s Department of Conferences and Special Programs does such a great job working with the MS Society team of Lori Espino, Robin Maxcy, Maura Bushior, Emily Rivera, and Kate Moore.
 
But here is the most powerful part of the weekend—those with multiple sclerosis riding in the event and volunteering at the rest stops. The race’s 75 miles in the saddle each day is demanding and can be painful for me and other riders without the disease. But how much more so for those whose mobility, strength, and balance have been diminished by the disease. And then there are the volunteers—some using canes, walkers and wheelchairs—cheering us on; providing us with drinks, snacks, and lunch; and thanking us for riding. I always feel guilty about that because I get to enjoy something they can’t. It’s a humbling experience and one that makes me deeply cognizant of what my wife and others with disabilities battle every day.

So, if you are a cyclist and want to join a challenging, fun, and important event, join us next June 13 and 14 for Bike MS at URI.

To help ease traffic and environmental woes, lift my spirits, and get some exercise

The weekday scene on Upper College Road between 3 and 5:30 p.m. hasn’t changed much in my 25 years as a staffer at URI. On many evenings, traffic backs up from the intersection at Route 138—sometimes all the way to Washburn Hall—and cars, many with only one occupant, creep along. I seem to remember similar traffic tie-ups when I was an undergraduate student here in the 1970s and a graduate student in the 1980s. And it seems to be getting worse, not only in Kingston, but around the country.

The two-prong solution to this problem is obvious to me: improve public transit and make it easier for people to commute to campus by bicycle. Many faculty and staff probably live within 5 to 10 miles of the Kingston and Narragansett Bay campuses, very manageable distances by bike. But I understand why people don’t bike. Local roads are narrow with no shoulders or bike lanes, often in bad condition, and not designed for safe bike commuting. And there are just too many oversized SUVs and pickup trucks on the road that make for a tight squeeze when one is riding a bike.

Plus, you might have to learn to shower in a sink, as I have—unless your building has a shower.

I applaud URI’s leadership in sustainability, including its new 2-mile bike path spur that connects the William C. O’Neill Bike Path to the Kingston Campus.

But if we are honest, we have to come to terms with what I believe is the most important factor in global climate change—single-occupancy (and in most cases, fossil-fuel powered) vehicles. Hybrids and electric cars may not be panaceas either—the toxins in their components, particularly batteries, are already environmental problems. So, community leaders, let’s get on with making bicycle commuting safer and more accessible and improving our mass transit.

Motorists, if driving is the only way to get to work and get home to the family efficiently, please think about a smaller car. The outrageous SUVs that often carry one person at a time are an indulgence we can no longer afford. Most of us don’t live in Alaska or in the Rocky Mountain backcountry, so we don’t need the horsepower, large wheels, and four-wheel drive that these machines offer.

And one more thing: When I operate a motor vehicle (and yes, I own a car, but I don’t use it much), I drive it. When I operate my bike, I ride it. For all of the yoga, meditation, and holistic health folks, there is something psychologically nice about taking a ride to work instead of driving. It seems like I am in overdrive every day at work, and it’s cool knowing that I will take at least two rides each day that restore my spirit and provide me with great exercise.