News Nov 19, 2009 at 4:00 am

Nonprofit Investigates the Portland Bike Scene's Racial Gap

Illustration by Jess Hirsch

Comments

1
SO TRUE! I've noticed black people are also mysteriously underrepresented at Phish shows, Vespa dealerships, and "Be Your Dog's Midwife" courses. It's probably all related to their lack of health consciousness and fear of police, though.
2
wow. such much ignorance and racism in one article. portland mercury... you're part of the problem. not the solution.
3
dear editor,

here's some abstracts for some articles for your "paper" which based on the above article i feel you'll find both compelling and engaging....

"Why aren't there more black people on the slopes at Mt. Hood?"

"Lots of black people hang out at the lloyd center, how come more of them don't use the skating rink?"

"Why was I the only black guy at the Sebadoh show?"

: |
4
For one, that census was nearly 10 years ago. It's time for a new census (i could only guess what happened in the last 10 years.)

i just wanted to say that one of my friend's is black and she rides a fixed gear. so what separates her from anyone else?

"Some communities call the bike lanes the 'white stripes of gentrification," i don't think this is an effective comment that solves anything.
it is a reality that a communication/language gap exists, but maybe we shouldn't be relying on race as a common denominator and point the finger.
we have the resources to educate ourself and we can create ways to fill the gaps if people really want to ride bikes. im a cyclist and i would be regardless of race, gender, or being an ex convict. riding a bike for transportation or for any reason is not an exclusive sport. sure it costs money, but so does riding the bus or driving a car.
5
Why would Ms. Coleman repeat, to the media, such an ill-informed comment that adds nothing to the discussion? ("white stripes of gentrification") Really, why would she repeat what someone said out of frustration? Its really surprisingly ignorant for someone who is the leader of a community group; its a comment both divisive, and uninformed. Disappointing- I expect more from my community leaders.

Even it that HAD been said to her, I expect her- as a community leader- to say, hey, what makes you feel that way? Let me show you the resources available. Let me help. I want to hear how she responded to that. Did she take it upon herself to consider it a teachable moment, and show that person how and where to access resources? Or simply choose to re-mouth it as a good quote for the media? Biking is for everyone. Apparently, she did not feel obligated to be helpful, and a problem-solver, and say to that community member, you are a valued member of the biking community, whether or not you are new to biking. She does not choose to share with us how she helped; one can only assume she did not. A pity that she did not take that moment to educate and connect that community member, but not a big surprise.
6
Maybe the people who don't ride bikes don't feel like it.
7
I'm Black & i ride a bike (& a pretty good one, too) all the time. This article is news to me.
Since when was biking precived as a "White" thing? It's effin' stupid, who actually thinks that?
8
Huh? I see tons of "non-white" people riding bikes all the time around here. It's probably their lack of helmets or ridiculously priced bikes that render them invisible to some.
9
Wow... $70,000 of our tax dollars going for this... stupid.
10
"It's probably their lack of helmets or ridiculously priced bikes that render them invisible to some."

You DO have a point here. Many [young] Black people either may not have the money, or just may not put the same priority into paying $600-$1400 for a bicycle.
11
Seriously? I mean, really? Someone got 70 grand to study why 'people of color' (your words, not mine) prefer a heated car with a stereo over the dangers of being run over on your bike, being cold, wet and tired, to go somewhere?

Really?

Give the 70 grand back. I can tell you why.

They don't effin want to.
12
i could be wrong but isn't Portland under 10% african-american?
13
That's a good point, christopher. Somewhere under 7%, I think.
You shouldn't expect to see more one black bicycle rider out of fourteen or so 'other race' bicycle riders.
14
Plenty of black people ride bikes, you just don't see them in your rout. Mercury articles need to stop talking about race, because the authors do not know how to approach this subject tactfully, whatsoever. How is this the alternative paper?

Please wait...

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