Refusing to cower, Bike Works proudly doubles down on diversity, equity and inclusion

Bike Works Tour de Fleurs 4 riders get instructions before starting the late March ride.

Bike Works has once again stepped up as an anti-racist guide star for bike organizations. As the Trump Administration bullies agencies, companies and non-profits across the nation into dropping (or at least concealing) their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion, Bike Works refuses to cower and hide its values. Instead, they are celebrating them.

Bike Works remains committed to our mission, our work, and our community - at a time when many social advancements are under challenge, our work remains the same," the organization wrote in a defiant press statement this week. We hold anti-racism and racial equity at the core of our work, both internally and externally. We use the bicycle to build connections to people, to places, and to the self. We celebrate Black joy. We celebrate trans inclusion. We celebrate belonging for each and every body."

It's not just words. Bike Works is expanding its bike education programs for youth and adults while also launching a new BIPOC Youth Leadership Initiative to mentor and develop new cycling movement leaders. I have long been a cheerleader for Cascade Bicycle Club's Advocacy Leadership Institute, which trains people on how to create and run successful campaigns at the grassroots level. It is enormously effective as an advocacy investment even though the effects are difficult to measure. You cannot know what exactly will happen when you sending bike-loving people back into their communities empowered with the skills to organize, but it's good. I cannot wait to see Bike Works' take on a similar concept.

Bike Works has long been a leader in crafting intentional inclusive bicycle riding and education spaces in both their youth and adult programs. Now they are demonstrating to other orgs what it looks like to have the courage to stand by these values whether the nation's top political forces favor them or not.

You can support Bike Works by volunteering or by donating to help fund their work. They also happen to throw the city's best annual bike fundraiser Bikecitement, scheduled for April 27 in SoDo.

The full Bike Works press release:

While national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts are being rolled back, Bike Works is rolling forward with clarity and purpose. Bike Works remains committed to our mission, our work, and our community - at a time when many social advancements are under challenge, our work remains the same. We hold anti-racism and racial equity at the core of our work, both internally and externally. We use the bicycle to build connections to people, to places, and to the self. We celebrate Black joy. We celebrate trans inclusion. We celebrate belonging for each and every body. We are all called to ground ourselves in community and to uplift and support those closest to us. This is the ethos at the core of everything we do at Bike Works.

DEI in cycling means breaking down barriers to entry and ensuring that everyone-regardless of race, gender identity, or economic background-feels welcomed, supported, and safe in the cycling world. It means addressing the historical exclusion of BIPOC riders in competitive cycling, ensuring trans and non-binary cyclists have access to affirming spaces, and making sure affordable bikes and repair services are available to those who need them most. It means investing in infrastructure so that all communities-not just affluent ones-have access to safe bike lanes and trails.

In light ofall this, we areincreasingour impact by investing over$450,000in aYouth Leadership Initiativeand year-round bike education programming in South Seattle schools.You can join us on this journey by donating here.

Investing in the Future

• BIPOC Youth Leadership Initiative - A new program supporting young leaders through mentorship, skill development, and hands-on opportunities to engage in the cycling movement. This includes opportunities to lead group rides, advocate for bike-friendly policies, and connect with professionals in the cycling industry.
• Year-Round Bike Education - Expanding programming in South Seattle schools to ensure students gain bike safety skills, confidence, and access to sustainable transportation. In 2024, Bike Works partnered with 4 schools, reaching over 500 students.
• Adult Bike Education - Increasing opportunities for BIPOC community members, women, and trans folks to learn bike maintenance and safe riding practices. Last year, 65% of participants in our adult programs identified as BIPOC, women, or gender-diverse individuals. Our Women & Gender Diverse nights create space for individuals to learn mechanics in an affirming environment, addressing the historical gender gap in bike shops and repair spaces.
• Community Building Events - Strengthening connections through signature events like Tour De Fleurs, Bikecitement!, and the annual celebration of Black cycling pioneer Major Taylor-bringing together over 1,200 community members in 2024. Events like these highlight the stories of underrepresented cyclists, create spaces for inclusive group rides, and encourage more people to get on bikes.

Bike Works exists because we believe in racial equity, mobility, and community," says Ed Ewing, Executive Director. Now more than ever, we remain committed to these values, ensuring that bikes remain a tool for social change."

With a deep and unwavering commitment to social justice, racial equity, and accessible mobility, Bike Works is making tangible investments in the community. In 2024 alone, Bike Works provided over 554 youth and adults with free or low-cost bikes, delivered 3,500 hours of hands-on bike education, and diverted 5,000 bicycles from landfills, redistributing them to individuals in need.