Assessing Risk on Two Wheels
Felix Poon used to be a reckless moped driver who weaved in between semi trucks. These days, he rides a bicycle while constantly looking over his shoulder for the slightest sign of danger, left to wonder why he continues to pedal at all.
Voices From the Saddle
To unpack that anxiety, Poon turned to fellow cyclists for answers. His inquiry brings together a city bike commuter who shrugs off his mother’s safety warnings, a self-identified “fat” woman returning to the saddle after years away, and a father hoping his son experiences the same scraped knees and broken bones he managed in his own youth.
Reece Taylor Williams and Marley Blonsky Discuss Biking Motivations
Together, this group examines what biking actually brings to their lives and what pulls them back onto the bike. The conversations feature perspectives from Reece Taylor Williams, Marley Blonsky, and Taylor Quimby, all documented in production work by Felix Poon.
Categorizing Rider Attitudes
Understanding why people choose to ride or walk away often comes down to individual risk tolerance. Planners frequently turn to the framework laid out in the Four Types of Cyclists paper, originally written for the city of Portland, Oregon, to categorize these distinct attitudes toward street safety.
Documenting Urban Dangers
At the same time, the dangers riders face remain starkly visible on urban streets. Photojournalist Reece Taylor Williams captured this reality in a self-portrait titled “Self-portrait, Die in for cyclists killed in hit-and-runs in New York City, City Hall Park, August, 26, 2026,” documenting demonstrations over rider fatalities.
Marley Blonsky Promotes Size Inclusivity Through All Bodies on Bikes
For many riders, returning to cycling involves confronting physical and social barriers. Marley Blonsky focuses on size inclusivity through All Bodies on Bikes, an organization she co-founded to open up the cycling community to riders of all body types.
Listeners seeking to share questions or feedback with the production team can leave a voicemail on the listener hotline at 1-844-GO-OTTER or send an email to outsidein@nhpr.org. The program accepts inquiries regarding nature, climate change, sustainability, and human evolution.
