Mom, Cyclist, Winooski Style Vermonter

What has eight legs, two wheels, and travels more than more than 5 miles a day? Abby Bleything and her family, as they take on the Winooski Circle. 

Like many Winooski residents, Abby and her family chose to live here due to the city’s walkability and bikeability. In addition to traveling to Burlington for work, Bleything and her family use their bike recreationally. Some of the family favorites include the riverwalk, Casavant nature walk, and community market. All of these local favorites are within two miles of the family’s home. 

“Winooski has an unfair reputation, Vibrant diverse city with a good school system — It is constantly overlooked when people moved to Vermont.” - Abby said. 

Vermonters are notorious for protecting the environment, advocating for cyclists and finding green transportation alternatives. Organizations like the University of Vermont and Green Mountain Transit have fleets that include electric or hybrid busses — the goal is to encourage residents to carpool while simultaneously cutting emissions from diesel vehicles. 

Other efforts include non-profit organizations like Burlington’s Old Spokes Home, who advocate for cycling infrastructure locally and state-wide. Throughout the state, cities like Colchester, Burlington, Essex and Williston have created causeways, lengthy bike paths and bike lanes on busy roads.

However, as noted by Bleything, not all areas are equipped for bikers and pedestrians. As it pertains to her route, areas like the Winooski Circle are particularly tricky as sidewalks are barely wide enough for pedestrians. Thus, bikers are forced into the road with cars and trucks. 

“If there are bike paths, we always choose those.” However, they are usually brief and intermittent, Bleything noted.

Nonetheless, Abby persists. She bikes her youngest to school everyday and recreationally, the family bikes anywhere within six miles. The Bleything journey to greener transportation began with a RadWagon,an “Electric Cargo Bike which features a 750 watt geared hub motor for more torque, while carrying heavy loads,'' according to the bike’s website. 

Eventually, they invested in another e-bike so their five-year-old could sit on the bike and their preschooler could ride on the trailer.

Though the Bleything family is thankful for the access to biking infrastructure, Abby highlighted the effects of F-35 noise on the family’s life and daily routine. 

“Those who can, move and those who can’t are stuck here. It is further disrupting the community. It is impossible. The noise impact assessments have confirmed it’s bad for our health. It is disheartening,” she said.