Transportation shouldn’t be the barrier that keeps people from work. Yet for many experiencing homelessness, depression, ADHD, or anxiety, the simple question “How do I get there?” can derail job opportunities before they begin.
A Simple Solution: Expand 211’s Mission
United Way’s 211 service already connects people to essential resources. It’s time to add a bike-focused extension: “I WANT to ride my bike to work!” This service would provide turn-by-turn bike routes via phone mounts to nearby employers actively hiring, delivered the night before interviews or first shifts.The beauty lies in its simplicity. Many people already have phones. Bikes are increasingly available through community programs. What’s missing is the navigation bridge that turns transportation anxiety into concrete action.
Why This Matters Now:
In group therapy sessions across the country, counselors hear the same refrain: people want to work but feel overwhelmed by logistics. The gap between wanting employment and taking the first step often centers on transportation fears—especially for those managing mental health challenges.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. While taking a health break from college in Florida, I’ve learned that writing “I WANT to…” statements before bed creates more productive days than morning planning attempts. This approach could transform how we think about employment support for vulnerable populations.
The Infrastructure Already Exists:
United Way offices are positioned perfectly to pilot this program, yet many aren’t leveraging bike advocacy resources. During a recent visit to inquire about volunteer opportunities, I found an unmanned reception desk and non-functional website links.
More telling: no Bike Walk flyers were available, despite bikes being a primary transportation method for many clients.
This represents a missed opportunity. People seeking bikes likely visit UP Centers or similar programs, but they leave without navigation tools to connect their new transportation to employment opportunities.
Beyond Navigation: Safety Investment
Any bike-to-work initiative demands safety improvements. Local MPOs should pilot “WRONG WAY” alert systems: small signal heads over bike lanes paired with motion-sensing strips that beep and flash when cyclists ride against traffic. This technology would both warn riders and collect data to guide education and enforcement efforts.
These aren’t just safety measures—they’re confidence builders. People nervous about cycling to work need to trust that communities are investing in their safety, not just expecting them to figure it out alone.
A Call for Community Investment:
This isn’t about creating another program. It’s about connecting existing resources more effectively. United Way has the infrastructure. Community bike programs have the equipment. Employers have the jobs.
What we need is the vision to connect them through something as simple as turn-by-turn directions and a phone mount.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to implement bike-to-work navigation through 211. The question is whether we can afford not to, when transportation barriers keep willing workers from meaningful employment.
Transportation equity starts with recognizing that mobility is dignity. For many, that dignity travels on two wheels—it just needs better directions.
Paul Morris lives in Vero Beach, Florida, and advocates for transportation accessibility and mental health awareness.
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