Alexander Holt’s Story

“My name is Alexander Holt. I grew up riding bikes around my hometown of Cuyahoga Falls, a suburb where I felt safe on most streets. While my friends and I avoided a few major roads, we otherwise enjoyed the freedom of biking everywhere throughout the city. 

After I went to college and got a car I pretty much stopped biking. Later, I moved to downtown Cleveland for graduate school and shortly after completing my studies my wife and I purchased road bikes. Since then, I’ve tried to make biking my primary mode of transportation in the city. Although I live on Chester Avenue, I usually avoid biking on this road. It’s much easier and safer to take Euclid Avenue, which has a dedicated bike lane and is well-lit at night. I vividly remember when the HealthLine was installed on Euclid Avenue in 2008 and how smooth and well-maintained the road was back then. Unfortunately, the street has deteriorated since, but it remains a functional option for cyclists. While I occasionally have to navigate cracks and debris, it generally feels safe. My daily commute includes a stretch of Euclid Avenue between East 40th and East 22nd streets, and I usually ride this route four times a day since I often return home for lunch. 

I did experience one biking accident—a car backed into me while parallel parking in the Euclid Avenue bike lane. Fortunately, I escaped with only minor injuries, though I was sore for about a month. That incident heightened my focus on bike safety, and I hope it remains my only run-in with a car.

Cleveland has made strides in bicycle infrastructure, though there’s still plenty of room for growth. I think the city is on par with similar mid-sized cities like Detroit and Pittsburgh. Projects such as the Cleveland Midway on Superior Avenue show progress, and I understand that some roads, like Chester Avenue, won’t be redesigned for biking any time soon. I’m optimistic that future developments will continue to prioritize cyclists on major roads, and I’m proud to call Cleveland home.”