Is Biking an Exclusively White Activity?

The rate of workers who commute by bike continues to increase, but it reflects a decidedly white demographic, specifically men. The Washington Post examines biking through the lens of race and gender.

1 minute read

July 11, 2011, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jeff Jamawat

"Statistics suggest that biking is not as popular with African Americans as it with whites. A report released this spring called 'Bicycling Renaissance in North America?' found that cycling has grown significantly in the past decade. However, most of the growth is among middle- and upper-income white men," Vanessa Williams reports.

In the article, Williams profiles an African-American bicycle activist Veronica Davis. Ms. Davis is the co-founder of Black Women Bike DC, an organization that coalesces and advocates biking as a means of transportation among blacks. The group also clamors for the construction of bike infrastructure in black neighborhoods.

"Black Women Bike has attracted women with varied interests and skill levels - from triathletes, to women who are returning after years away from cycling, to women who don't even own bikes yet."

FULL STORY: Black women take their place in D.C.’s bike lanes

Sunday, July 10, 2011 in The Washington Post

Transportation United States District of Columbia Bicycling

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