Birds, Beltlines, Bikes: An afternoon with Rachel Bergman

Rachel Bergman’s path to becoming a cycling advocate and landscape architect was anything but linear. Growing up near Atlanta, she cultivated a deep appreciation for nature, particularly birds and the outdoors. This passion led her to study biology in college, while an art minor provided a creative outlet she still cherishes. Over time, she found a way to merge these interests—channeling her scientific understanding of ecosystems and her artistic eye into landscape architecture. Today, her work blends ecology and design, shaping environments that are both functional and visually inspiring.

Rachel's professional journey began with environmentally focused organizations. Internships at Southface, Trees Atlanta, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden exposed her to the world of green building, urban forestry, and the early days of the Atlanta Beltline.

The Atlanta Beltline, a 22-mile greenway loop, has become a national model for urban revitalization, drawing delegations from cities across the country, including Raleigh's leadership last year. Its success lies in the blending of natural and built environments. Rachel Bergman played a crucial role in the Beltline's early development, working with Trees Atlanta to clear brush and combat invasive species like kudzu, often using shears, herbicides and good old-fashioned elbow grease. This hands-on experience not only shaped the Beltline's landscape but also sparked Bergman's interest in the broader context of urban spaces, ultimately leading her to pursue a career in landscape architecture.

"I've never had a super clear life path," Rachel admits. "I've just kind of seen what is interesting and drifted towards it." This drifting led her to NC State for a three-year landscape architecture program. She learned the technical skills, from CAD drafting to 3D modeling, but also the art of understanding and creating successful spaces – balancing openness and enclosure, natural and human-made. Landscape architecture, she explains, encompasses everything a foot outside of a building, from parks and greenways to the design of outdoor structures like pergolas and amphitheaters.

While her professional life blossomed, so did her passion for cycling. Introduced to bikes by her father, she began commuting by bike in Atlanta in 2012, quickly falling in love with the freedom and eco-friendly nature of two-wheeled travel. "It quickly became…a huge deciding factor in what I do with my life," she says. "Partially because I just dislike driving and partially because I want to be a good steward of the planet."

Initially focused on commuting to and from the office – 20 miles round trip in Atlanta – Rachel's cycling soon evolved. Longer rides with her dad laid the foundation, and upon moving to Raleigh for graduate school, she discovered the vibrant local cycling scene. Through the NC State Cycling Club, she joined group rides like Jubala and RBC, gradually building her strength and speed. "Consistency is really the thing," she emphasizes. "I haven't ever really had a specific training plan. It's just riding to work every single day…and then, when it's your leisure and you go on a longer ride…that's what I tell everyone. It's like I didn't aim to get strong. It's really just doing it every day that gets you there."

Bergman's advice to aspiring cyclists is simple: "Ride where you're not comfortable sometimes and it'll get comfortable. You don't have to be fast to ride a bike. You can just start pedaling and eventually you'll get fast." Her journey, from battling kudzu to conquering group rides, is a testament to the power of consistent effort and a passion for the ride. And her next crusade? Getting rid of lawns and replacing them with native plants. That, she says, is a story for another day.