Story by Kristin Jenny
(Source Cycling Weekly):
It’s no secret that cycling is an overwhelmingly white and Caucasian sport. In fact, a recent survey from USA Cycling, the national governing body of the cycling sport, found that 86% of its members identify as white or Caucasian, while only 3% identified as Black or African American.
In addition to being a white sport, cycling is also a predominantly male sport. That same survey found that men made up 80% of survey respondents and women just 19%.
One of the demographics most underrepresented in cycling is women of color. There are a variety of reasons for this — everything from systemic racism and micro-aggressions in the cycling world to underrepresentation, creating a cycle of more homogeneity that repeats with fervor.
For the past decade, the non-profit organization Black Girls Do Bike (BGDB) has been working to change what the cycling world looks like by providing welcoming, safe and fun opportunities for women of color to ride bikes.
With its tenth anniversary coming up in August 2023, the organization can proudly look back on a growing legacy of helping hundreds of women of color find community and joy in cycling, but their work is far from done.
