Sister Spotlight: Kristi Gdanetz MacCready, Gamma Theta

For many, summer means being outdoors and riding bikes. For Kristi Gdanetz MacCready, Gamma Theta, bicycling is a passion that drives her year-round.

“As a child, I biked all the time with my family,” Kristi says. “We were always hitting trails all over Pennsylvania.” For Kristi, bicycling has always provided a sense of freedom like nothing else. “Cars used to be the symbol of freedom, but with the growing cost of gas and maintenance, they can also weigh you down,” Kristi explains. “With a bike, I can go anywhere using only the power of my two legs. It’s incredibly freeing!”

Today, Kristi lives in Lansing, MI, where she is a PhD student in plant biology at Michigan State University. “Although Lansing is a very bike-friendly city, it is sometimes a little unsafe for bikers,” she says. “A little scary.” So Kristi decided to do something about it. She and a friend participated in Bicycle Advocacy Day in Michigan. “Lansing is the state capital,” she explains. “So it was very easy for us to talk with legislators about increasing bike safety and encouraging more people to ride bikes. Cities all over the country have learned that more bike safety encourages more active bike riders, which means more exercise and less pollution.” Bicycle Advocacy Day in Michigan was a huge success – in fact, Kristi’s advocacy efforts will be showcased in the upcoming issue of Michigan Bicyclist, the magazine of the League of Michigan Bicyclists.

In addition to her advocacy work, Kristi makes a point of biking every day. She has recently participated in 30 Days of Biking, where she committed to riding her bike to and from work every day. She is also participating the National Bike Challenge, a national competition where she logs all of her bike hours from May to September as part of the Michigan State University team.

So what does Kristi do in her spare time? In addition to her studies and biking, Kristi – along with Leona Parent, Beta Xi, launched the Lansing Area Alumnae Association for Alpha Sigma Tau. “We were looking to connect with more Alpha Sigma Taus,” Kristi explains. “There are a lot of Sisters in Michigan, and we would love to get to know them better.” Launching just on June 3, the Association is the newest alumnae group in Alpha Sigma Tau.

To learn more about Kristi’s bicycling endeavors, follow her blog at http://kristigdanetz.weebly.com/blog/category/bicycles.