Bikes are an important part of many people’s lives, and fostering a world where cycling has a place involves recognizing this diversity of experience.
"After my trips to Mexico this year, I tried to capture some of the cultural significance of bikes in my family’s towns because we need more of people of color elevating those narratives. We need more representations of diverse people on bikes to change the perception that bicycling is mostly something that white folks do," writes Lynda Lopez.
Lopez describes seeing Colombian singer Carlos Vives perform "La Bicicleta," a song he recorded with fellow Columbian Shakira. "Before closing the show with this song, Vives spoke about the significance of the bike in Colombia and how cycling is a way of life there."
Representing this diversity should be an essential part of bike advocacy, argues Lopez. "If we can reflect our cultural backgrounds and experiences in biking through language, art, and music, we can open the doors for more people to be part of biking culture."
Read the full story: The joy and power of bike culture in POC music and art
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