tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post1070425563091790399..comments2024-02-20T00:55:18.782-08:00Comments on Change Your Life. Ride A Bike!: CYLRAB Visits The White HouseAdrienne Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-91546874757379519492012-05-30T14:56:52.781-07:002012-05-30T14:56:52.781-07:00great post melyssa, as i have expressed via our gl...great post melyssa, as i have expressed via our glitteratti PM lanes, rad.<br /><br />in response to: <i>It's gonna take more than free helmets to get Latino kids to ride their bikes.</i><br />yes, in between multiple arguments that surround this issue, apply not only to latino kids, but in many cultures and cities alike -- generally speaking -- I'd like to add this: the assumption that by riding a bike, you are poor and can't <i>"afford"</i> to be/buy/maintain a car. <br />that mentality is what i have been personally exposed to as a kid. next, being a woman on a bike 'why would you want to expose yourself to all those catcalls' and third, is the taboo of 'omg, as if riding your bike you are SAVING the world, you stupid hippie' <br />if that makes sense, just one of the many things that do need to switch and as CTX said, need more exposure not only on blogs, but as a change in population myths so to speak. <br />if something needs to deeply infiltrate latino culture, put a soap star on a bicycle in a telenovela, without the 40yr old virgin dork-emphasis. <br />now THAT would be a hot, heavily followed trend.MELI.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01871688353021351859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-27727401715048010042012-05-25T13:26:27.781-07:002012-05-25T13:26:27.781-07:00I grew up in the almost completely Caucasian Outer...I grew up in the almost completely Caucasian Outer Sunset until 1984 and then i moved to the almost completely Latino Mission District. There was no difference in kids bicycling in either place. There were kids on bicycles until helmet laws hit. I think there are other reasons for the decline that contribute to the problem, but that was the start.<br /><br />I will say, though, i am seeing Latino and black kids on bicycles in the Mission and beyond, again. Things are changing.Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-24187363655413647822012-05-25T13:14:47.860-07:002012-05-25T13:14:47.860-07:00why do you think that is so? i grew up seeing lots...why do you think that is so? i grew up seeing lots of latino kids riding around my grandparents' neighborhood in san antonio. granted, no helmets, but i don't know what the law was back then.calitexicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16257014894653568163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-45858967663935311612012-05-25T12:33:48.966-07:002012-05-25T12:33:48.966-07:00aww shucks, thanks alex! :) yay, it works! <3aww shucks, thanks alex! :) yay, it works! <3calitexicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16257014894653568163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-54116541052874248702012-05-25T12:20:50.447-07:002012-05-25T12:20:50.447-07:00These giveaway programs are all over the place, th...These giveaway programs are all over the place, they're funded and the schools participate. I'm sure there are all kinds of reasons, but the kids simply don't hold on to these free helmets beyond about a week.<br /><br />It's gonna take more than free helmets to get Latino kids to ride their bikes.Yokota Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808661100114872654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-22295596163854269622012-05-25T12:18:16.684-07:002012-05-25T12:18:16.684-07:00This blog (with your encouragement and guidance) d...This blog (with your encouragement and guidance) def changed my life and got me sitting and sleeping less than 24 hours a day so I'm very happy you are being recognized as the #topbloguera that you are!Alejandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-64056692435718240552012-05-25T12:16:48.376-07:002012-05-25T12:16:48.376-07:00i think working w/ sf yellow bike project might be...i think working w/ sf yellow bike project might be a good start. i've also wanted to do this for bike party during a saturday ride, so maybe the two can join forces again. <br /><br />i like your thinking ade. opportunities. reframing for the win!calitexicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16257014894653568163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-68340179442182335792012-05-25T12:08:18.337-07:002012-05-25T12:08:18.337-07:00I think we need to stop calling things "barri...I think we need to stop calling things "barriers". Barriers are something that can not be moved. We need to start looking at things like getting helmets to lower income families as challenges and opportunities to get to know the people of these communities better. If there are programs out there, then let's get them where they need to be! A weekend neighborhood booth where you could get your bike tuned and a kid's helmet given to you would go a long way to side stepping "barriers". How do we get that done?Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-37026878967580250472012-05-25T12:01:02.349-07:002012-05-25T12:01:02.349-07:00thanks manoverBORED! i know you are well aware of ...thanks manoverBORED! i know you are well aware of this as well, so great way to represent yourself! you go show that really long bike ride there are plenty of POC that can represent!calitexicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16257014894653568163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-43513305088927795402012-05-25T11:59:49.642-07:002012-05-25T11:59:49.642-07:00i just asked this guy from SJBP about helmets yest...i just asked this guy from SJBP about helmets yesterday. he says there are state programs for kids who need access to helmets. is something i want to bring over to SF bike party, but in general, i didn't know that program existed, and is amazing to know!<br /><br />this is from his FB post:There's at least 2 SJ programs giving away helmets. I beleive it was SJ Streetsmarts that was at our ride. And for kids there's also a state funded program - <a href="http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/01/08/san-jose-schools-fitting-2500-kids-for-free-bike-helmets/" rel="nofollow">http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/01/08/san-jose-schools-fitting-2500-kids-for-free-bike-helmets/</a>calitexicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16257014894653568163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-82707136394291580902012-05-25T11:56:28.059-07:002012-05-25T11:56:28.059-07:00A couple of my random thoughts / observations:
*...A couple of my random thoughts / observations:<br /><br /> * One of my Latino friends says he'd like to bike to work (he lives about 2 miles from his work place), but his wife is super concerned about safety and Ricardo refuses to wear a bike helmet.<br /><br /> * California's mandatory helmet law for children has a disproportionate impact on the Latino community. Most of us middle class Americans wear a bike helmet without a second thought. Even with giveaway programs, though, you won't find many helmets in lower income neighborhoods. Police in some jurisdictions *do* enforce this law, so it's easier for these kids to just get a ride to school rather than deal with the hassle of a potential stop by Officer Friendly and possible followup from Imigre.Yokota Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04808661100114872654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-2594646581061232532012-05-25T11:54:26.448-07:002012-05-25T11:54:26.448-07:00Great post! Way to represent! :) Agreed that healt...Great post! Way to represent! :) Agreed that health is totally a social justice issue, and making biking (and walking! and urban green spaces!) more accessible to all (including children and the elderly, people of color, people living in low-income neighborhoods) is a great way to both improve our environment and our health!manoverboredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02197318120225475915noreply@blogger.com