Bike Lanes, Gentrification and Anti-Blackness

“What does race have to do with biking?” is a common question we hear from white folks in the biking community, often followed by, “Stick to bikes.” We have a long way to go to understanding the intersectionality of race and biking.

As an organization fighting for safe, just, and livable streets, we must talk about race and take action for racial justice.

This panel of experts will discuss how anti-Black racism manifests in the biking community, in the SF Bicycle Coalition as an organization, and in urban planning practices here in the Bay Area.

Immediately following the panel discussion, there will be an optional opportunity to join a virtual, small-group discussion with other event attendees.

View the Recording

Panelists

Brytanee Brown

Strategic Planner, Thrivance Group

(she/her)

Read Bio

Shakira Simley

Director, San Francisco’s Office of Racial Equity

(she/her)

Read Bio

Ariel Ward

Transportation Engineer, SFMTA

(she/her)

Read Bio

Kenya Wheeler

Principal Transportation Planner, SFMTA

(he/him)

Read Bio

With Remarks By

Supervisor Shamann Walton

District 10 Supervisor, San Francisco Board of Supervisors

(he/him)

Read Bio

Moderators

Audrey Harris

SF Bicycle Coalition Board Member, Transportation Planner at the Oakland Department of Transportation and Former Transportation Demand Management Program Manager at the City and County of San Francisco’s Planning Department

(she/her)

Audrey Harris has faced the woes of the lack of bike infrastructure, dangers of uninformed drivers, and lack of safety that is rooted in being an exposed women of color on a bike. Now with a family, all these decisions complicate her relationship to her bike even more so. Audrey’s background is in transportation planning, racial and social equity planning, and people-powered decision-making from her leadership role in her union.

Meaghan Mitchell

SF Bicycle Coalition Board Member, Journalist and Former Community Engagement Manager for JUMP Bikes

(she/her)

Meaghan Mitchell has had success in building the trust of residents from the most vulnerable neighborhoods in SF, stemming from growing up in Bayview, a historically marginalized community. Meaghan’s background is multifaceted and focuses at the intersection of diversity, inclusion and community engagement.

Over time, Meaghan’s outreach work has helped establish the legislated “African American Arts & Cultural District” of SF, launched the first dock-less e-bike share system in SF JUMP Bikes, debuted Hoodline’s Bayview news coverage through journalism, and led the “Play Streets For All” initiative while working for Livable City.

Accessibility Info

Live captioning will be provided during the online event by a Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) transcriptionist. If you need the services of a CART transcriptionist in order to participate in the post-event discussion or if you have other accommodation requests, please email events@sfbike.org to see if we can accommodate.

A text transcription of the discussion can be viewed here.