When I pedaled across the country in 2010, I started Enroute Transport as a blog to record my trip. The journey was many things, one of which was field research on bicycle tourism, rural economic development, and historic roads. While I had environmental motivation in choosing this trip, I had a stronger research thesis in 2010 with economic benefits than environmental ones.

Many things have changed since 2010 and (wow) 2020, including me. It seems like the right time to undertake a new journey – at least a written and digital media one – to shine a light on travel and outdoor recreation today.

Climate change is everywhere in the news, and transportation is a big part of the problem. For the U.S. in 2019, transportation accounted for the largest portion of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (29%) with 58% of that portion from light duty vehicles. Similarly, tourism is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions, and 49% of those emissions derive from transportation.

I went car-free in 2007 mostly for financial reasons. I was already a bike commuter, and I enjoyed sorting out how I could get where I wanted to go without using a car. As a soloist, I was limited to outdoor recreation I could reach by train, bus, bicycle, foot, or a combination of those travel modes.

Bicycle sales skyrocketed during the pandemic, and e-bikes led the spike. E-bikes make bicycling possible and even enjoyable for more people, and as a result, more Americans than ever before are enjoying the benefits and experiences of riding a bike.

I am a white, able-bodied woman with a hip replacement. I recognize that my privilege and ability to pedal long distances in a single day give me access to experiences and recreation that may not be available to other people. While race and physical ability affect the access people have to outdoor recreation, other factors, which I will also explore, are important.

For this new blog undertaking, I am most excited to share conversations I have with people whose perspective on outdoor recreation is different from my own. I’m not unique in valuing outdoor recreation as fundamental to personal health and well-being, and I look forward to the opportunity we have to create better access to the outdoors for everyone.