DEAR BIKE AND OUTDOOR INDUSTRY, why aren’t our efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion combined? As cyclists, are we not an “outdoor” community too? Do we not care about the outdoors? Every cyclists I know shares a passion for cycling and the outdoors. In fact, we actually ride outdoors so much that we travel far to camp sites on our bikes to be outdoors. Every cyclist can confess that being in the outdoors keeps on our bikes completes us, without spending time connecting to Madre Tierra we lose it, so why is the cycling industry and outdoor industry so separated?
For years, cycling has had a love for outdoor recreation – as cyclists we tirelessly address our need and love for adventure, for most of us multiple times a week, finding new roads, new mountains to climb, or trails to ride on and that desire doesn’t burn out. So now let’s address the cycling industry who seems to purposefully separate itself from other outdoor recreation activities and climate activism. I think it’s important to address those two issues here because while the outdoor community is tackling issues like climate and equity, diversity and inclusion, the cycling industry is further alienating and distancing itself from being a part of these movements and discussions.
As a blogger and advocate who talks tirelessly about climate change, streets safety, diversity, equity, and inclusion in cycling media, advocacy, and industry – I actually align myself with the outdoor community because it’s more inclusive and addresses these issues, why can’t we combine our efforts to tackle the same issues together? We could learn a lot from the diversity and inclusion within the outdoor industry, who has been leading the way to include more BIPOC folks and women, trans, and femmes. We can take on issues like toxic masculinity, access, fighting for public lands, holding industries accountable, education from indigenous cultures about land stewardship, mobility justice advocacy, and climate change which should all be on our radar as cyclists.
I know I’m not the only cyclists – outdoor enthusiast who cares about these issues and there are folks who are trying to bring these industries and discussions together too. For example, @wtfbikexplorers published the Cycling Industry Pledge which aims to bridge the work of Teresa Bakers Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge built from the outdoor diversity, equity, and inclusion advocate community to the cycling industry. Pedal2thePeople, has also built a community of diversity and inclusion of BIPOCs on bikes -outdoors who share their own narratives of how they got into cycling and why it’s important for BIPOC folks tell their stories. As a 10yr cyclist and advocate dedicated to justice in this space, I started Cyclista Zine to share the stories of BIPOC and WTF folks who are not represented in cycling mainstream narratives and how we as a community and industry can bring justice into our spaces and the world. We are here to share our stories and build the community together, so why not join?
I encourage all cycling brands industries to take the pledge and the community as consumers of cycling and the outdoors to support the brands who have taken the pledge. If you’re an “influencer” in cycling, influence change in this industry by working with the brands who have taken the pledge. Even better, buy from BIPOC brands and amplify their businesses and work. I will and hope you will too.