Hey there! I’m Christina, the blogger behind City Girl Rides and the creator of Cyclista Zine. I’m thrilled to welcome you to my world of urban exploration and cycling adventures. As a proud Chicana and descendant of the Kawaiisu people from the Tejon Indian Reservation in California, I’ve always had a passion for discovering cities by wandering their streets.
Walking, riding trains, and biking have always been my go-to ways of exploring. They allow me to truly soak in the details and experience the beauty of each place. My love for cycling has shaped my journey in so many ways, and my activism truly took off when I started commuting to work and school.
I started this blog with the intention of sharing my stories, knowledge, and skills as a new commuter. Little did I know that it would grow into a vibrant community where women connect, share their skills, and tell their own stories. Through this platform, I’ve been able to shed light on the gender gap in cycling, advocate for change in policies and infrastructure, and challenge the racial and gender discrimination that still exists in the biking world.
My experience as a commuter inspired me to pursue a degree in the field, and I’m proud to say that I’m now a graduate in this area. Today, my focus lies in getting more people to embrace the concept of mobility justice as a central pillar of sustainable transportation and outdoor recreation. I’m fully aware that women, trans individuals, queer individuals, and people of color are often made hyper-aware of their bodies and safety in public spaces, which can make it challenging for them to see cycling as a viable mode of transit.
Throughout my college years, from City College of SF to UC Berkeley, I learned more about the injustices in cycling and city planning than I ever did in the classroom. This realization motivated me to make it my mission to bridge the gap between mobility justice and city planning while working on my thesis.
After graduating, I made the move to Brooklyn, where I quickly became involved in the local bike advocacy community. I had the incredible opportunity to work at Eleanor’s NYC, a women’s bicycle boutique, where I focused on writing content and building a sense of community with organizations like WEBIKENYC and Transportation Alternatives. In the past nine years, I’ve worked as a data analyst in the life sciences industry, bringing together the worlds of patient advocacy and biotech. To me, data is all about storytelling, and that’s what led me to start Cyclista Zine. By collectively sharing our stories, we can find solutions and drive change, as long as we prioritize mobility justice.
Currently, I call New York my home, where I live with my spouse and dog. Although I’ve traded the city streets for the scenic hills of the Hudson Valley, my passion for sustainable cities, nature, cycling, and empowerment continues to infuse every piece of content I create.
At CITY GIRL RIDES, our mission is to share real-world experiences and lessons from the streets. We want to break down barriers such as skill gaps and lack of knowledge, making cycling more accessible to everyone. We understand that not everyone has the privilege or feels safe riding a bike, especially without proper infrastructure like bike lanes. It’s important to acknowledge that riding is not safe for everyone, and Black and Brown communities often face the unfair targeting of mobility policing.
As you delve into the archives of my blog, you’ll notice that there was a time when I was caught up in the “look pro” culture. However, I soon realized that corporate cooptation of cycling was erasing the voices of those who had been striving to build an inclusive bicycle culture for years. This realization brought me back to my roots, reigniting my purpose for starting this blog. In a world that creates countless barriers for marginalized communities to thrive, I’m determined to be resilient and provide a platform for their voices through connecting with our stories, the land, and as a members of a larger community. I hope to see BIPOC and WTF (Women/Trans/Femme) individuals of all body types finding joy on The Land and becoming the voices of diverse cycling cultures, because there is more than one way to bike.
And because of that connection, I am able to bring you Cyclista Zine.
CGR is still active, the old blog is archived here, but I give most of my time to Cyclista Zine, join the riot on Instagram here.