Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Bicycling

Talking Headways Podcast: Dear Bike People

podcast icon logo
false

Do people of color and low-income people ride bikes? Not as much as they could, given all the great benefits biking offers, particularly to people without a lot of disposable cash. But yes, non-white and non-rich people ride bikes -- in high numbers compared to the general population, by some measures.

Even though they're biking the streets, people of color and those with low incomes are largely missing from the bicycle advocacy world. The League of American Bicyclists, along with many other advocacy organizations around the country, are out to change that. We covered the League's report on equity in the bicycling movement last week -- but there was still lots more to talk about.

So Jeff and I called up Adonia Lugo, who manages the equity initiative at the League. We talked about what local advocacy groups can do if they want to reach out to new constituencies, whether infrastructure design really needs a multicultural perspective, and how the movement can start "seeing" bicyclists that don't fit the prevailing stereotype.

We know you have strong feelings about these issues. Tell us all about 'em in the comments  -- after you listen.

And find us on  iTunesStitcher, and the RSS feed.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Who Rides on the Sidewalk? To NYPD, Just Blacks and Hispanics

The NYPD has ramped up its enforcement against cyclists for squeezing pedestrians, but in a very suspect manner.

December 8, 2025

‘No Better Place’: Mamdani Must Pedestrianize Financial District

Residents of Lower Manhattan have been demanding pedestrianized streets for decades, but the city and Big Business keep thwarting them. Sounds like a job for Mayor Mamdani.

December 8, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Congestion Pricing Edition

The New York Post has laid the bait for Gov. Hochul on congestion pricing, but will she take it? Plus more news.

December 8, 2025

Queens Judge Orders City to Rip Up Half-Installed Astoria Bike Lane

The unprecedented ruling flies in the face of reams of data demonstrating the safety benefits of protected bike lanes.

December 5, 2025

Unions and Environmental Groups Push Council To Pass Delivery Protection Act

Intro 1396 would force Amazon and other delivery companies that use last-mile warehouses to ditch the sub-contracting model and directly hire their workers.

December 5, 2025

Watchdog Group Wants Hochul to Veto Bus Lane Parking Mulligan

Reinvent Albany thinks a carve-out for bus lane parkers in Co-op gives rule-breaking motorists a free pass.

December 5, 2025
See all posts