improving lives through bicycling
Join us for a
free group ride! p. 6-7
June 2016 / Vol. 46 No. 6
cascade.org
My daily commute By Rich Brown, Major Taylor Project Coordinator
I refuse to give up the thing that I love, my bicycle.
I used to think riding bikes was only for kids and for fun. Now I see the bicycle as a form of transportation, recreation, fitness and meditation. I grew up in Los Angeles, Calif. At age 14 my parents moved to the suburbs. That was a life changer. I went from the inner city to a predominantly white school and community. My parents had prepared me for this transition by raising me to be aware of my skin
color and how some people will make prejudgements about me. Soon, that all began to sink in. I started racing BMX and mountain biking in Southern California during the 80s. The sport was not very diverse, but I really enjoyed competing with my peers. I do recall the looks I got for being the only person of color; or for having the make-shift bike, while my white peers were flaunting their new polished Diamond Backs GTs and Haros. Comments like, “what’s he doing here? ” or “shouldn’t you be playing basketball? ” were very confusing to me; I was not raised that way. Knowing that I wasn’t accepted pushed me to compete even harder, but it was exhausting. My parents supported me in following my passion, but I did not feel welcomed. I dropped the bike and got into football. On the Gridiron I felt welcomed, and the camaraderie helped shaped my values. The feeling of being an outsider still came up, just not as often.
Twenty-two years later, I decided to get back on the bike. My employer at the time supported cycling, and most of our staff commuted to work by bike daily. I was inspired. I bought my first road bike (Raleigh SuperCourse steel frame) and it was on! I rode that thing everywhere. I fell in love with biking again. This new bicycling culture embraced me and supported me, and that felt awesome. To this day, I am still reminded that at times, I will be the only one. I hear unconscious racial bias from my own people — things like, “blacks don’t ride bikes; or if they do, they are not cool or they are poor.” A few years ago I was chased, run off the road, and had racial slurs screamed at me while mountain biking in North Bend. So I know we still have a long way to go. Despite these discouraging events, I refuse to give up the thing that I love again, my bicycle. This is my daily commute as a Black man.
My daily commute By Ed Ewing, Major Taylor Project Director
Like Rich, I experience the isolation, the looks and the slurs. On Monday, April 25, I was reminded of my skin color and racism with a slur yelled from a person driving by in West Seattle. I was just riding my bike, enjoying my day, pedaling to my home, just like you. Like Rich, I dismiss ignorance and hate with every pedal stroke and refuse to give up the thing that I love, the bicycle. This too, is my daily commute as a Black man. We believe stories are powerful, and we’d like to hear yours. To share your daily commute story, visit cascade.org/your-story or share online by tagging @cascadebicycle on Twitter or Instagram with #mydailycommute.
2016 Bike to School Day was a success!
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
7787 62nd Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98115 www.cascade.org
TIME DATED MATERIAL
PRSRT STD US Postage Paid Seattle, WA PERMIT No. 2172
By Emily Kotz, Youth Programs Assistant & Shannon Koller, Senior Director of Education
Reflective spoke card prizes were handed out to every rider who rode on Bike to School Day. A student at West Woodland claims his reward for riding!
The 2016 National Bike to School Day was May 4, and communities across the state of Washington celebrated by greeting students on their morning rides to school. Youth on bikes, scooters and tricycles took part in prize giveaways, enjoyed healthy snacks and went on their way, ready to learn.
“It was glorious! Too many for the bike racks!” said Lynne Peck-Theis, parent champion at Cascadia Elementary. “At least 65 student cyclists signed in, so about 10 percent of the school rode a bike or unicycle.” Lynne participated in a bike train with other parents and kiddos and said, “the littlest one was a first grader who was on a bike that seemed barely bigger than a balance bike. She was in the back of the pack saying, ‘I wish I could go faster!’ in a hopeful voice. With a small downhill length, she caught up to another student, and her grin was huge as she pedaled past.” More than 3,000 students across the state rode on Bike to School Day. Newcomer to the Challenge, Coe Elementary School in Seattle had 100 students ride — a ridership equaling 20 percent of its total student body! New participating schools across the state included Lincoln Middle School (Pullman), Foothills Middle School (Wenatchee) and Island View Elementary (Anacortes).
Congratulations to all the students who rode, and a huge thank you to the Bike to School program coordinators, volunteers, parents and our sponsor, Seattle Children’s Hospital, who made this year’s Bike to School Day possible and a true success!
Students at Coe Elementary smile with Bike to School Day prizes and snacks in hand.