The path to a more bikeable Minnesota — one that is genuinely safe, equitable, and accessible for everyone — runs through a critical intersection of advocacy and community trust. For the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN), realizing its vision of a state where walking and biking are easy for “everyone, everywhere” means bridging the gap between historical institutional approaches and the lived realities of Black Minnesotans.

This is a story about the evolving relationship between an established statewide advocacy organization and the heart of the Twin Cities’ Black community — told through the lens of those who have been riding, organizing, and building community long before the conversation reached the State Capitol.

BikeMN, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has spent years establishing itself as a unified voice for active transportation. Its mission — to make biking safe, fun, and accessible — is backed by a stated commitment to anti-racism and equity. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, just blocks from its office, the organization issued a public statement of solidarity, acknowledging that it had “perpetuated systemic racism by not actively and intentionally speaking out against it,” and pledging to prioritize Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices.

Yet internal and external assessments reveal a persistent gap. As reflected in BikeMN’s own grant materials, state trail usage remains skewed toward white, older, and higher-income households. The aspiration is clear: ensure that Black and Indigenous communities have access to vital daily movement and the support to advocate for policies that serve their neighborhoods. The challenge is making sure that vision is not only a policy goal, but a lived experience.

The real equity work is often happening on the ground, led by organizations and individuals who operate at the speed of community.

For decades, institutions like the Major Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota have been at the forefront. Named for Marshall “Major” Taylor, the first African American world champion cyclist, the club has been a bedrock of Black cycling culture in the Twin Cities since 1999, when it became the state’s first Black cycling club. Its members are not waiting for institutional permission; they are hosting rides, building community, and developing leadership.

Similarly, groups like Slow Roll MSP and the Cultural Wellness Center have helped power events such as Black Bike Week, celebrating Black contributions to cycling culture. These efforts show that the desire for safe, accessible biking is robust — it simply requires support that centers the culture, safety needs, and joy of the community.

The path toward a truly inclusive future means moving beyond “outreach” and into “partnership.” That looks like:

Amplifying trusted messengers. Insight News — a Black-owned Twin Cities community newspaper, founded in 1974 as Insight Magazine and continuously publishing as Insight News since 1976 — offers more than an advertising platform. It serves as an anchor institution, the authentic connection that bridges policy and people. When an organization like BikeMN partners with Black-led media or community builders like Anthony Taylor — founder of Slow Roll MSP, co-founder of the Major Taylor Bicycling Club, and a partner in Venture Bikes, the community bike-and-coffee shop on the Midtown Greenway — it shifts from a cold pitch to a community-endorsed collaboration.

Design for equity, not just access. Lessons from early state programs, such as the e-bike rebate initiative, show that “first-come, first-served” online models often fail the very communities they aim to serve. A truly equitable approach requires intentional design — working with Black households to understand barriers like timing, digital access, and safety perceptions.

Collaborative advocacy. The future of Minnesota’s active transportation depends on whether the community sees itself reflected in the programming. By collaborating with community-led and BIPOC-centered cycling groups — the Stamina Racing Collective and the Ride for Reparations among them — BikeMN can ensure its work is not just for the community, but with the community.

The 2026 landscape offers a moment of both urgency and opportunity. With active transportation funding on the table and a renewed focus on e-bike equity, the potential for change is real.

The story of biking in the Twin Cities is being rewritten by the people who ride every day. By continuing to listen to, follow, and partner with Black leadership, BikeMN can help ensure that the future of Minnesota’s trails and streets is one where everyone — regardless of skin color — can find freedom, health, and community on two wheels.

As the community keeps pedaling forward, the invitation remains open: to build, to ride, and to advocate — not just for better infrastructure, but for a Minnesota where the joy of the ride is accessible to all.

This article was produced with AI assistance.