Updated Strategic Plan Tackles Transportation Inequity

By Ginger Jui

The East Bay’s increasing challenges of income inequality, affordability, and displacement are driving transportation inequity. As a result of growing inequality, communities of color and people with fewer resources overwhelmingly must travel farther to work, school, and community services. Our marginalized communities continue to lack safe streets for biking and walking and access to reliable public transit.

When seeking to transform our cities for better bicycling, we must ensure that the benefits are shared by everyone. To address these challenges, Bike East Bay’s board and staff updated our strategic plan this year to reflect the rapidly changing social and economic landscape of bicycle advocacy in our region. We have set ambitious two-year goals for advocacy, education, and community engagement in order to achieve rapid gains in transportation equity.

Advocacy
Bike East Bay’s advocacy program will increase the number and diversity of people biking as part of an equitable and just transportation system. Our advocacy will focus on developing an extensive and seamless network of bike facilities that integrate bicycling into public spaces, serve multiple needs, and reflect community character. We will promote a community-driven transportation planning process with a special focus on building partnerships with community groups organizing around social justice issues, including displacement, disinvestment, and health disparities.

Education
Bike East Bay will continue to provide free and easily accessible bicycle education programs, with a particular focus on people of color, people with fewer resources, immigrants, families, and communities suffering health disparities. In order to reach these communities, we will grow our successful partnerships with affordable housing, community health organizations, libraries, and employers. In addition, we will continue to grow the number of classes taught by women and people of color, and ensure class instructors are familiar with and represent our many East Bay cities.

Community Engagement
Bike East Bay is committed to building a collective and powerful voice for a more just and equitable transportation system. Our new initiatives will center the voices of people historically excluded by bicycle advocacy, including people of color, people with fewer resources, and women. We will provide training and support for members in advocacy, community organizing, and fundraising to promote grassroots leadership. Through strong, collaborative relationships across staff, board, members, and volunteers, we will build financial sustainability and political clout to support bicycle advocacy.

Visit BikeEastBay.org/Mission for more details on our updated strategic plan.

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