It's the weekend!!!
We share a great reflection following a community Bike Festivities sponsored by the City and hosted by us and some organizations serving racialized communities in the Region of Waterloo.
Shirley G, a volunteer contributor with KMFW, shared some hard-to-accept facts on Racial Diversity in Cycling, highlighted organizations supporting and encouraging more racial diversity in bicycling, and challenged us with a quick task to seek out diversity in cycling.
Read about this on our website (KMFW Blog).
-According to Kara Fallon, Shop Manager at Bikes Together, "generally, the bike industry defaults to this lens of a white, cisgender, heterosexual, non-disabled man with class privilege." However, this is not the true image of who the cyclists are, and it does not allow us to build safer or inclusive spaces for those who do not share this perspective. In addition, an equity view around inclusiveness means cities need an intersectional approach to planning and promoting racial diversity in cycling.
-Also, diversity of thought should help propel cycling forward in myriad ways. Kecia McCullough, a licensed master of social work and leader of the Black Girls Do Bike chapter, shared in an article that "there's a conscious effort toward dispelling old images while welcoming new and diverse perspectives." So what are these new images that promote cycling inclusion, you'd ask?
Kara Fallon recommends that municipalities/cities take a step back, create intentional spaces, listen, amplify BIPOC [Black Identifying People of Color] and trans voices, and support BIPOC and trans people in leadership positions. As a start, here is a sample of some organizations and groups close to and around South Western Ontario working to encourage more racial diversity in bicycling, along with ways you can get involved to support them.
*Ontario Cycling: Women in Cycling Steering Committee: Aims to boost equality and diversity in cycling in Ontario.
*Everyone Rides Initiative (Hamilton): They remove the barriers that prevent people from accessing bikes for transportation and fun!
* Transportation for liveable communities (Hamilton)k.=' ki88: Sustainable transportation advocacy
* The Culture Link (Bike Host): The bike Host program matches up Newcomers open to cycling with mentors who ride regularly.
* ManDem Cycling (Toronto): This is a diverse and inclusive cycling community-based program for any bike, any skill level, and they ask that you Come Outside!
*Gyaldem Cycling Collective: This is a women's cycling club in Toronto, Canada, that offers social rides for identifying women of all skill levels
*City of Kitchener Bike Festivities: They hosted their first event for Racialized communities this past June 2022. An opportunity for a fun and safe space for racialized communities to experience the joys of cycling. Learn new skills from trained instructors and go for small group rides around the City. Free training, tune-ups, refreshments, live music, kid's activities, and more!
You are welcome to add more or tag others in the comment session.
-Why #RepresentationMatters
If you need a reference for how poorly underrepresented minorities are in cycling media, visit the websites or social media of most bike brands and play the representation game:
a. How many clicks or images until you spot a POC [People of Color]?
b. What's the ratio of POC to white folks?
c. Repeat a and b with WOC [Women of Color].
Let us know how the above task was for you- mind you, this challenge from Ayesha McGowan was written in 2018, 4 years ago today! Your research will answer that not much has changed since 2018!
Still on why representation matters, Ayesha McGowan developed the above challenge in a curated article for Bicycling Titled Diversity Is Cycling's Most Urgent Problem—Here's How to Fix It (2018). Here is an excerpt from her message, and you can read more by visiting the Bicylicing.com page.
Quick information about Ayesha McGowan:
She is an elite road racer and cycling activist. You may know her from her mission to become the first African-American female professional road cyclist (which has been covered by outlets like BICYCLING, Outside, ESPN, and BBC News). She has also worked in bike advocacy, getting more women and people with disabilities into riding.
Ayesha shared ten (10) ways bike industry professionals can better promote diversity in cycling; I have highlighted them below.
Understand why it has to start with you.
Include women—and then go further.
Recognize it's about equity, not equality.
Be deliberate.
Know the difference between representation and tokenization.
Hire POCs!
Be creative when you scout talent
Keep asking questions.
Be willing to get uncomfortable.
Treat each new piece of content as a new opportunity.
Thank you for reading.
*I highly recommend reading the article by Tamika Butler (also on Bycling.com) titled, Why We Must Talk About Race When We Talk About Bikes: SYSTEMIC RACISM CAN'T BE FIXED WITHOUT TACKLING IT WITHIN CYCLING.
Images:
First: ED at KMFW, Ajirioghene (Left) and Cultural Navigator at African Family Revival Organization, Fadhwah.
Second: ED at KMFW, Ajirioghene (Left), and Event Contributor at KMFW, Lauren (right)
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