| Vol. 10, Issue 11 |
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Membership Issue Membership campaign showcases diverse cyclists Ride with Chicago’s first predominantly black bike club Action alert: Urge state legislators to override veto Suburban tollway ride raises funds for trail Advocacy welcomes new faces to bicycling efforts ‘Share the Road’ vehicle sticker art contest kicks off Share your stories on bike>>blog Businesses reach out to bicyclists |
Ride with Chicago’s first predominantly black bike club
I have heard many black While these groups are formal enough to have small regular group rides – usually for road-pounding, hardcore riders – they are not likely to wear matching jerseys. Members join through word-of-mouth, communicating like a circle of friends would — via cell phone, e-mail and Yahoo! groups. So this is an opportunity to formally organize the effort to better establish a visible, predominantly black bicycling community. The meeting Oct. 20 will welcome families, gentle cruisers and hammerheads alike to join. After the meeting there will be an inaugural ride to the Dan Ryan Woods and on the Major Taylor Trail. We will stop at Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pie shop at 1844 W. 95th St. (one-half block off the Major Taylor Trail) for snacks, water, coffee and, of course — pie. This initial event is about breaking new ground and raising awareness of black folks bicycling in the region. A visible black bike club can be a bright example of a healthy, active lifestyle to black Chicagoland. The group can consist of the occasional novice rider, hardcore racers and everything in between. A visible black bike club grows organically — independent of any government agency, organization or the bicycle industry. Being visible in the community is critical to the success of this group — whether by wearing matching jerseys or being seen on regular group rides through the area. New riders will be warmly welcomed and educated in bicycling. We'll be offering clinics and events that are targeted for all levels of skill. It is my hope that the informal groups that already ride together will be supportive and join this plan. Riders who aren't black and are interested in supporting socially equitable bicycling in Chicagoland are encourage to join the club and can pass on this valuable information to other riders who would want to join. I also invite all other bicyclists in the region who envision and actively want to support more bicycling for everyone in Chicagoland to come join the gathering. While a movement like this might take some time to grow, I think the stars are aligned for something beautiful like this to come about. I ask myself almost every day: What are the issues or needs in the communities I serve, and how am I serving those needs? The success of growing a vibrant, visible, beautiful predominantly black bicycling club depends largely on the amount of effort put in by the black members. Now is the time to make that happen. Keith Holt is a community liaison for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
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bicyclists ask about joining a predominantly black
bike club. Although there are groups of predominantly black bicyclists
that operate under the radar, they are not known to the general
bicycling public by name.