Thanks to Ronnie Harris for writing this thoughtful piece.

But this potential only be realized through significant cultural change, through the engagement of some of the most disenfranchised members of our communities: the elderly, single parents, the unemployed, and the underemployed. At Go Bronzeville, a local community-led initiative to promote walking, biking, and transit use, of which I am the director, we understand the vital role of this kind of community engagement for ensuring that the socio-economic benefits of improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure are accessible to those who need them the most. The extent to which community members are involved in planning and building these resources helps determine the extent to which they’ll embrace them.

If we fail to harness that potential, if we do not look for opportunities to engage collectively and intentionally and if we are complacent in the face of racial inequity, we will wind up on the wrong side of history. On the other hand, if we are proactive about doing the challenging, but necessary, work to engage with and include marginalized groups, there is incredible potential for righting past injustices that that continue to negatively impact communities of color.

Can you imagine the power in that moment when limitless imagination (i.e. bike highways) and resolve meets industry demands, all while correcting the mistakes of the previous century? Perhaps that’s the kind of outcome that Justice Douglas envisioned; perhaps that’s at the heart of what People for Bikes was aiming for with their conference. In this pivotal time in history, let’s make sure that places for bikes are also places for people.

Full Article on Chicago Streetsblog:

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2017/07/28/for-the-livable-streets-movem...