Josh Perry and Ivy

Josh Perry and his daughter Ivy enjoy their daily commute, even if there are a few bumps along the way.

Josh, who works for the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, bicycles about a mile to work each day with 2-year-old Ivy in tow. Their destination is Vanderbilt’s Child Care Center, where Ivy takes advantage of the abundance of toys and water activities. But the fun starts when the pedals begin to turn.

“Our rides give us time together where we are able to experience the sunshine and the breeze and the birds singing and dogs barking,” Perry said. “Ivy sings to me or talks about what she sees or what the highlight of her day was.”

Ivy’s a fan of their mode of transportation as well, with the exception of the occasional bump she receives from her dad’s messenger bag. “My knee, my knee!” she shouts when this happens, her blond curls blooming from beneath her bumble bee bicycle helmet.

“I get to experience a commute that moves at a slower, more contemplative pace and helps me stay focused on what is most important,” Perry said.

What better way to start or end a day could there be?           

–Whitney Weeks

^{Posted 06/19/06}