In the face of national uncertainty, we remain anchored in local people-power.

As people who ride bikes, care about our planet, and are committed to racial justice, the rapid rollout and cascading effects of the Trump administration’s recent policies have been, and continue to be, stressful and disruptive to the work that we do. The feelings are multiplied when we consider our roles as  Co-Executive Directors– our team is dedicated to the daily fight for better transportation systems and safer communities…and more challenges have now been placed in our path.  

Despite, and in spite, of national uncertainty, at Bike East Bay, we remain steadfast in our mission to champion streets that prioritize people over cars.

The Impact on Our Cities and Partner Organizations

National policies and priorities are shifting unpredictably, like the funding pause for transportation projects. The message is clear: community safety and fighting climate change are not priorities for the current administration. 

While our organization’s budget is not currently directly impacted by federal funding decisions, we recognize that many of our partners are having difficult conversations about the sustainability of their finances and their ability to do essential work. An interruption to their services would be disruptive and harmful to the communities they serve, and staff that are already stretched thin now have to scramble to find financial stability.

This shortfall will be particularly felt in marginalized communities, where infrastructure investment is already insufficient and the human impact of historical disinvestment is the greatest. We partner with groups like Monument Impact and the Multicultural Institute to host free workshops for immigrant workers and day laborers, and tragically we have already seen a drop in class attendees due to fear of ICE raids. Our commitment to mobility justice emphasizes the right to exist in public spaces and move freely, safely, and joyfully. It is unacceptable for people in our communities to live in fear based on their race, social class, or immigration status.

Centering Our Community 

We’re committed to finding ways to support our partners doing frontline work with queer, immigrant, and BIPOC communities and how we can support them and their work by leveraging our resources, network, and institutional influence. 

We are doubling-down on our work at the local level to ensure that everyone in the East Bay can safely move throughout their neighborhoods. While federal actions are having devastating impacts in our communities, it is important to continue our work on local policies that are  critical for people-first streets. Our team continues to hold cities accountable to their bike plans, call out negligent and dangerous street designs , work collaboratively on regional infrastructure funding, and build out a broad network of advocates who can push for change on a hyperlocal level. 

Bike East Bay will always be a safe space for people of all identities and backgrounds, who can show up as their full selves. Bike East Bay has a deep history of queer leadership and we stand strong in our support of our trans and queer friends and colleagues.  This month, we’ve been revisiting and reminding ourselves of our Community Agreements that are shared at every group ride, bike education class, and volunteer event.

Acknowledging Our Movement’s History

Our collective bicycling movement has historically lagged behind the broader social justice movement.

In 1894, the League of American Wheelmen (the nation’s first bike advocacy organization), voted to ban Black people from becoming members. This policy was eventually reversed….but not officially until 1999.

In general, the urban redevelopment and transportation policies that shape the East Bay have long been tools of segregation and displacement. Infrastructure projects such as BART and the construction of highways in the mid-20th century decimated neighborhoods, particularly in West Oakland and Chinatown. 

We must also confront the racial disparities in traffic enforcement. Many Black and Brown cyclists face unjust policing, reinforcing systemic inequalities under the guise of traffic safety. If we are truly committed to making streets safe for everyone, we must advocate for mobility justice that does not rely on over-policing marginalized communities. 

This history is a stark reminder that transportation advocacy has not always been inclusive, and we continue to actively work to remedy that. Part of our work is calling out injustice when we see it, and using our privilege and position to raise up the voices that are most impacted. We are committed to using our resources to support partner organizations and communities that are targeted by discriminatory federal policies.

Thank You for Believing in Our Work 

The uncertainty we face has real impacts on our work and the partners we support. Violence does exist on our streets: through unsafe street design, ICE raids, police surveillance, and racial discrimination. Mobility justice is about more than just bike lanes—it’s about creating joyful, safe, and welcoming communities where people can thrive.

We want Bike East Bay to be one of the communities where you always feel welcome. We encourage you to join us for a class, social event, or group ride in the coming months— during tumultuous times, we all rely on each other to keep moving forward. 

Thanks for standing with us and investing in this work.

In community,

Justin Hu-Nguyen and Jill Holloway

Co-Executive Directors of Bike East Bay