Have you noticed who rides bicycles in your community? Have you noticed who doesn’t?

In early 2009 the Community Cycling Center recognized that, despite the cost savings and health benefits of bicycling, many people cannot or do not choose bicycles to get around — particularly among communities of color.

We want to understand why.

So we have been meeting leaders and learning about organizations in our area to understand community health issues and discuss the role that bicycles might play.

We will share what we learn during the Understanding Barriers to Bicycling project, including reading lists, lessons learned, and evaluation reports.

Download the Understanding Barriers to Bicycling project overview.

Transportation Literature Review

Earlier this year, Alta Planning + Design completed a transportation literature review, to help us understand what has been done to understand or address the transportation needs of communities of color. It was interesting to find that the review did not reveal specific, proven strategies in marketing bicycle transportation to low-income, women, and minority populations. However, several barriers stand out as relevant issues facing the ability of these communities to obtain affordable, convenient transportation.

Download the Transportation Literature Review

Community Health Literature Review

When the Transportation Literature Review revealed little in terms of what we know about the needs fo communities of color and programs that address their needs, we turned to community health and public health research. There are many helpful studies, ideas, approaches and resources in the community health literature.

Download the Community Health Literature Review

Reading and Media List

We are constantly looking for stories to help us, as an organization, to explore and learn about the experiences of people who live in our city.

Local Color: Local Color is the story of black Oregonians and their struggle for equality told by the people who lived the history.
State of Black Oregon: This report contains a stark inventory of statistics that show a persistent gap in living standards between black and white Oregonians, a gap that is growing wider as a result of the current economic downturn.
Making the Invisible Visible: A document reflecting on and celebrating Portland’s Native American Community.
Counter Culture: A series of what the author calls “immigrant stories,” set in Portland’s cafes and lunch counters.
Boise Stories: An oral history project based on interviews between youth and elders in Portland’s Boise-Eliot neighborhood.

 Do you have other recommendations for our reading and media list? Please send it to Alison[at]CommunityCyclingCenter[dot]org.

Press Releases

February 19, 2009

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This project is possible because of the generous support of Metro. We also thank our project team, Kristin Lensen Consulting and Lynn Weigand from the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation.