WABA to Hold a Charrette to Discuss How to Diversify Bicycling

Bicycling is already diverse, how can it be improved?
Image: Author

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) sent an email to certain members and organizations asking:

"What would it take to make bicycling more diverse? More inclusive? More equitable?"

Sunday, December 10, 2017, WABA is hoping to bring together regional bicycling groups at the Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Neighborhood Library, 115 Atlantic Street SW from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm to conduct a charrette, which is an intensive planning session that brings citizens, designers and others together to collaborate on a vision for development. It also provides a space for participants to discuss possibilities, problems and think, creatively about moving people or people moving.

The event is free but participants should register online.

The charrette project partners include advisers Charles Brown of Equitable Cities and Mike Lydon of Open Streets Project and is supported by a grant from the Office of Planning and the Kresge Foundation.
 
From the WABA email:

Bicycling locally and nationally is overly represented by individuals who are white, male, educated, and with above average incomes. How can we as a community start to change that? How can local bicycling groups, clubs and organizations collaborate to make bicycling more inclusive? How can the city support this goal?

The charette hopes to help foster new ideas regarding the generation and refinement of future programs, events, or initiatives that would help increase diversity in bicycling. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for groups, club, and organization to discuss what they are doing to make bicycling more inclusive as well as discuss their experiences and perspective with people who are typically undeserved.

WABA is inviting several groups to discuss how to meet people of color where they are with regard to bicycling and give them the tools to make their own decisions on how to bike and what bicycling looks like in areas traditionally undeserved.  According to the email, the following groups were invited:

Color of Cycling Slow Roll DC Kidical Mass DC Black Women Bike DC Gearin' Up Bicycles Artemis WABA’s Women and Bicycles Capital Bikeshare All Walks DC Getting it in Cycling Oxon Hill Bike and Trail Club Anacostia Bicyclist Association Safe Routes to School National Partnership Tour de Bike Lane dVELO

Cycling Without Age Peace in the Streets Ride Streetwize Foundation Jews on Bikes Red, Bike, Green Phoenix Bikes E. L. Haynes PCS Latin American Youth Center DC Bike Polo DC Bilingual PCS Office of Planning Department of Parks and Recreation

If there is a group that could potentially contribute, email Greg Billing at greg@waba.org with additional names and groups.

Light snacks and drink provided. All participants will receive a thank you gift of goodies for your participation.