Who are the real minorities?

Oct 8th 2007

By: RL Policar

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On MtnBikeRiders.com, I posted a little blurb about Women who ride, are super cool. I also went into the subject of them being a minority in the sport, but even more of a minority would be black men and women mountain bikers…and the more I think of it…in commuting.

I’m sure this is going to sound really goofy, but I have YET to see a black man or woman commuter on the roads that I ride on. Could it be that The OC is just too white? Once in a great while I’ll see one or two, but the last time that happened was 2 years ago!

I’m curious to know if there are other parts of the country that has a more diverse collection of riders.

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Ghost Rider

October 8th, 2007 at 19:53

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Hell, yeah! Tampa is chock-full of black and Hispanic bike commuters…in fact, it’s rare to see a whitey like me on the roads. Granted, I don’t live in a predominately white area of town, and my commute takes me through less-than-stellar neighborhoods, but still…

Here’s how I got my nickname (Ghost Rider)…a black gentleman was surpised to see a white person riding to work through his neighborhood, and he told me “I thought you were a ghost!” That’s how rare white bicycle riders are in the neighborhoods I cruise through!
RL Policar

October 8th, 2007 at 19:56

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Now it makes sense….I was starting to wonder about your name!

Thanks for sharing!
Arnie

October 8th, 2007 at 22:21

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Hispanic over here!!!
Ghost Rider

October 9th, 2007 at 03:46

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Believe me, I don’t go as “Ghost Rider” because I am a fan of that horrible Nicholas Cage movie by the same name! I must admit that I DO have a Ghost Rider action figure zip-tied to the front fender of my commuter bike, though.
Adam Durand

October 9th, 2007 at 06:47

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Most of the bike commuters I see in Rochester, NY are black or hispanic – white bike commuters are the minority bikers here.

But the bike culture is completely different in many parts of the city – riders stick to the sidewalks or ride the wrong way down the street, and never wear helmets.

When I’m riding in the segregated parts of town on my way to work I’m often told by motorists that riding on the street is illegal, or told to “go back to the suburbs.” People actually take offense to my bike commuting getup and riding style.
Nord

October 9th, 2007 at 07:08

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I seond GR’s experience. In H-Town, the majority of bicyclists you see are Hispanic. I’ve never really thought of them as “commuters” in the sense that they gear up with lights and panniers and head to the office, but more as “riders” who use the bicycle exclusively for transportation. I also volunteer at a community bike shop in the Third Ward, an historically Black area of the city. Same thing there – tons of bike riders.

I suspect- and I’m going out on a limb here – that socioeconomics play more of a role in some people’s decision to bike the drive, moreso than others personal choice to make a small difference in the way things get done on Spaceship Earth. Doesn’t matter to me, I wave at everybody all the same.
Quinn

October 9th, 2007 at 08:35

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A lot of hispanics in Reno, most are illegals riding huffys, that said, atleast they aren’t driving SUVs!
Ghost Rider

October 9th, 2007 at 08:37

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You certainly don’t need a fancy bike with lights and panniers to qualify as a commuter — but I am pleased to see that many of the folks riding bikes in Tampa use at least one light (front or rear, rarely both) at night.
Moe

October 9th, 2007 at 08:41

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I prefer the term ‘suspected undocumented immigrants’ as opposed to illegals, that is, unless you have asked them to see their green card.
Gabriel

October 9th, 2007 at 18:57

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There’s a lot of riders in St. Pete, but the “Sport” riders on fancy bikes are generally white and affluent, and the “Commuters” are frequently working-class black or hispanic, and occasionally white, and almost always without helmets. I don’t see many office-job commuters packing panniers, like myself.

What’s kind of sad is that more often than not, the “sport” riders aren’t the ones who smile and wave back!

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