Two years ago, David Francisco was told he would never ride a bike again.Cycling through Berry Hill on April 27th, 2016, the musician and Blackbird Academy student was t-boned as he pedaled his 21-speed Bianchi through an intersection in southern Nashville, Tennessee.His spinal cord was broken, paralyzing him from the waist down.Fast forward to June, 2018. With the support of partners like Lime, Airbnb and Extreme Music, David -- alongside his wife Kristi and a team of friends and family members -- is preparing to embark on the most improbable of adventures: a tandem bike ride across Coastal California from San Francisco to Los Angeles.The story that took David from a critical care hospital bed to his 475-mile Ride for Hope is as much about compassion and forgiveness as it is about perseverance and overcoming. Earlier this month, he was featured on the Ellen show sharing personal insights on the experience and his ongoing journey towards recovery.

To this day, he maintains a strong relationship with the young woman who hit him, describing their mutual struggle after the accident as one of “redemption.”The team at Lime is proud to support David and the Ride for Hope. We’ll be providing apparel, drivers and technical support along the way, along with a fleet of Lime-E electric-assist bikes for those wishing to participate on any leg of the journey via Airbnb Experiences.“I've been able to get back on the bike, and the good folks at Lime have come behind and supported me more than I could've imagined,” said David. “They're encouraging me to get back on the saddle, and allowing others to join on our bike ride in just over a week.”We’re also using this as an opportunity to promote bike safety and infrastructure improvements throughout the United States.The helmet David was wearing at the time of the accident very likely saved his life, but more needs to be done to ensure that cyclists and other smart mobility riders are seen, heard and protected.Studies have shown that bike safety is highly dependent on awareness and visibility of cyclists. By getting more bikes on the road, and encouraging more people to ride them, we aim to bolster awareness of cyclists and advocate on their behalf.Tune into Lime’s Instagram story series from June 22nd through July 3rd as we chronicle the Ride for Hope and discuss cycling safety tips and smart urban infrastructure.Together, we can help turn David’s powerful journey of healing into a campaign for safer, more cyclable streets.