‘Bikes for All’ event will focus on equal access to bicycling

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

14 years ago

Event flyer.

An event tonight being presented by the Community Cycling Center will seek to raise the issue of equal access to bicycling. “Bikes for All: Building a healthier community with bicycles,” is part of the CCC’s ongoing effort to address what they see as a lack of ethnic diversity in Portland’s biking population.

When we first covered their efforts back in October 2009, CCC Director Alison Graves told us, “The people riding and making decisions about bicycles is a white, middle class group.” Since then, Graves has busy speaking about their Understanding Barriers to Bicycling project and raising awareness about the issue anywhere someone will listen — including a presentation at the recent Trek World show in Madison, Wisconsin. (I delved further into the Understanding Barriers in this post from back in April.)

Tonight’s event will include a panel discussion with Graves, along with Shelli Romero, a community affairs manager with the Oregon Department of Transportation; Leslie Esinga, the “community builder” with the planned, mixed-income New Columbia neighborhood; and Joseph Santos-Lyons from OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, a non-profit group that helps empower low-income communities.

The “Bikes for All” event promises to be an opportunity to, “Meet people, learn about projects, and discuss policies to engage communities of color in bicycling. Share your story and help shape the vision of bicycling in your community.”

On August 26th, ODOT, the City of Portland, and a host of other partners will keep the equity issue at the fore with the first annual “Equity Bike Ride,” which is also being held to highlight existing and upcoming improvements to the I-205 path.

Bikes for All: Building a healthier community with bicycles