Dear Bike East Bay members and partners,
As protests continue across the nation, Bike East Bay mourns George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and many more Black lives lost to police and racially motivated violence in recent weeks and months. This is the same structural racism we see when police disproportionately stop and arrest Black people who bike in East Bay cities. It is the same systemic inequality that leads to Black lives being cut short by the novel coronavirus and continuing traffic violence in our communities.
In order to fulfill Bike East Bay’s mission and build a more just and equitable transportation system, we must push back against our society’s systematic inequalities, including those based on race. The Black community should be able to bike, walk, and exist safely, equitably, and joyfully, without police and other systemic violence.
“When Black bicyclists are able to ride without fear, only then can we all bike in peace.” Bike East Bay wrote these words in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter three years ago. Today, the movement for transportation justice continues.
What you can do with Bike East Bay today:
- Tell BART that increased police enforcement does not make transit safer as we recover from the pandemic.
- Learn more about Bike East Bay’s values for equity and social justice at BikeEastBay.org/Equity.
Support Black-led organizations in the local bike community:
Additional Resources:
We also lift the additional organizations, readings, and resources collected by our friends at CompassPoint.
Groups local to the East Bay include:
Sincerely,
Ginger Jui
Executive Director
Bike East Bay
