Second annual Equity Bike Ride set for August 25

Bicyclists of all ages and backgrounds are invited to the second annual Equity Bike Ride on Thursday, August 25. The ride begins at 6:00 pm at the southeast corner of Lents Park (at SE 92nd and Steele) and includes 6.5 miles in the Lents neighborhood.

According to Oregon Department of Transportation Public Policy & Community Affairs Manager Shelli Romero, who’s organizing the event, the ride will include brief presentations from the following groups:

Native American Youth and Family Center
The Skanner Foundation
Latino Network
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
Center for Diversity & the Environment

The cyclists will also stop at Zenger Farm to enjoy home-cooked tamales from the Micro Mercantes program of the Hacienda Community Development Corporation.

In addition, the ride will include part of the I-205 Multi-Use Path, which Friends of Trees, Metro, ODOT, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, and a wide range of local businesses and community groups are enhancing by planting thousands of trees.

As part of the Equity Bike Ride, Friends of Trees Green Space Manager Logan Lauvray will share information about the planting project, called A New Forest Grows. You can learn more on our Green Space Initiative page.

“Bicycling is a great way to bring folks together to see our neighborhoods and communities from a new and different perspective, reduce impacts to our environment and build community,” notes Romero. “It’s also a great means for transportation and recreation and a great way to get some exercise!”

This year’s ride builds on last year’s Equity Bike Ride, which took place in the Montavilla neighborhood. The goal is to “educate, heighten awareness, and bring diverse communities together to learn about the geographic, racial, economic, and environmental equity efforts underway in our communities and specifically in East Portland,” said Romero.

Joining ODOT in hosting the Equity Bike Ride are the following sponsors: Audubon Society of Portland, Community Cycling Center, Friends of Trees, East Portland Action Plan, TriMet, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

Last year’s Equity Bike Ride drew nearly 70 bicyclists from many walks of life. Read more on our blog.

–TR