Invisible Cyclists
Today if you were to ask anyone in Portland Oregon to describe to you what a typical Oregonian cyclist looks like, you will probably get the description of a white, hipster, and privileged man. It would be very rare that you got the description of a minority and undocumented person. Under Oregon laws, undocumented residents or people who are not citizens of the United States are not allowed to get a driver license or Identification card. Therefore many undocumented people in Oregon must rely on public and active transportation for their transportation needs and mobility. Portland offers different types of public transportations and infrastructure for biking for people who are dependent on public and active transportations; however, once you step out of Portland, the go into the suburbs or rural communities, one might be lucky if you find a bus stop near sight.
Undocumented residents don't bike because of the benefits to the environment, or because of the positive impacts to their health, or because they joining a new urban trend; they bike because it is their only means of transportation other than walking. This type of rider is known as the “invisible cyclist” in the biking community. These “invisible cyclist” are not seen as city hall or cyclist advocacy events because they can’t afford to get involved (Keatss, 2015). Many of these riders have also been seen riding on sidewalks, not follow biking rules, and mostly biking without helmets or safety lights. Recently, bicycle advocates have been discussing and brainstorming on ways to include cyclist that can’t afford to get involved and how to represent their needs.
The US Census Bureau collects data on what mode of transportation people use to get to work by income group; cycling falls into the same category as do taxis and motorcycles. Therefore, the data does not give a clear picture of what share actually commute solely via bike. An individual whom bikes to a bus stop would be classified as someone who uses public transportation as their mode of transportation. The data gets even trickier when you consider that undocumented residents are more reluctant to participate and provide information in polls or surveys due to anti-immigration rhetoric and fear of Immigration Customs Enforcement (Coalition of Communities of Color, 2018). In response to the need, throughout the nation different nonprofits, like Bike San Diego and Bike Houston, have been stepping up and been trying to further understand the needs of minority, undocumented, and low-income riders in their communities. Nonprofits like Multicultural Communities for Mobility in Los Angeles works with “invisible cyclist” and provides advocacy and education services such as “bilingual legal and safety workshops and distributing bike lights and helmets” (Keatts, 2015).
Written by: Sofia Alvarez-Castro
Edited by: Kate W.
References:
Keatts, A. 2015. Most Cyclists Are Working-Class Immigrants, Not Hipsters. The State & Localities Governing. Retrieved from: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/memo-to-cities-most-cyclists-arent-urban-hipsters.html
Coalition of Communities of Color Coalition. 2015. Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County. Coalition of Communities of Color. Retrieved from:http://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/research-and-publications/leadingwithrace
Undocumented residents don't bike because of the benefits to the environment, or because of the positive impacts to their health, or because they joining a new urban trend; they bike because it is their only means of transportation other than walking. This type of rider is known as the “invisible cyclist” in the biking community. These “invisible cyclist” are not seen as city hall or cyclist advocacy events because they can’t afford to get involved (Keatss, 2015). Many of these riders have also been seen riding on sidewalks, not follow biking rules, and mostly biking without helmets or safety lights. Recently, bicycle advocates have been discussing and brainstorming on ways to include cyclist that can’t afford to get involved and how to represent their needs.
The US Census Bureau collects data on what mode of transportation people use to get to work by income group; cycling falls into the same category as do taxis and motorcycles. Therefore, the data does not give a clear picture of what share actually commute solely via bike. An individual whom bikes to a bus stop would be classified as someone who uses public transportation as their mode of transportation. The data gets even trickier when you consider that undocumented residents are more reluctant to participate and provide information in polls or surveys due to anti-immigration rhetoric and fear of Immigration Customs Enforcement (Coalition of Communities of Color, 2018). In response to the need, throughout the nation different nonprofits, like Bike San Diego and Bike Houston, have been stepping up and been trying to further understand the needs of minority, undocumented, and low-income riders in their communities. Nonprofits like Multicultural Communities for Mobility in Los Angeles works with “invisible cyclist” and provides advocacy and education services such as “bilingual legal and safety workshops and distributing bike lights and helmets” (Keatts, 2015).
Written by: Sofia Alvarez-Castro
Edited by: Kate W.
References:
Keatts, A. 2015. Most Cyclists Are Working-Class Immigrants, Not Hipsters. The State & Localities Governing. Retrieved from: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/memo-to-cities-most-cyclists-arent-urban-hipsters.html
Coalition of Communities of Color Coalition. 2015. Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County. Coalition of Communities of Color. Retrieved from:http://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/research-and-publications/leadingwithrace
Hey Sofia! I like your post. As I was reading through it, I kept thinking how many times I've spotted "invisible cyclists" in my neighborhood. There a few of them that I know of but as you have said, these cyclist get afford to get involved in the cyclists community. I want to know more about the Multicultural Communities for Mobility organization. Do you think Portland has anything similar?
ReplyDeleteThe Community Cycling Center isn't exactly the same, but it's a good place to start if you're looking for a group that caters to diverse cyclists. https://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/community/partner-programs/
DeleteOh, yeah, and OPAL Environmental Justice, of course. The Transportation Justice Alliance as a whole might be the best analogue.
DeleteLike Sarah, I thought of the invisible cyclists in my neighborhood -- in particular, the people who collect cans and bottles for deposit returns. If you fit a trailer onto a bike, it's an especially cost-effective and efficient way to make the rounds of recycling bins. We rarely talk about transportation choices in terms of survival, but for a lot of people that's what it's about.
ReplyDelete