On December 1, Bike Works hosted a Major Taylor Tribute Ride, and screened a new short film honoring the first African-American world cycling champion. That was in 1899, when bike racing was a really big deal. This was a fun, social ride around south Seattle at quite a bit slower pace than the Black Cyclone’s.
Organizers included Seattle African-American bike community leaders pictured here: Rich Brown, Jay O’Connor and Phyllis Porter. They are leaders in Bike Works, Rainier Riders, Rainier Valley Greenways, Black Girls Do Bike-Seattle, Cascade Bicycle Club, Cascade’s Major Taylor Project, and Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board. Other leaders included Ed Ewing and Dr. Rayburn Lewis, two of the founders of the Major Taylor Project in Seattle. Don and Rachel (a Major Taylor Club volunteer) rode, representing West Seattle Bike Connections.
119 years after Major Taylor broke speed records and color barriers, a lot of people still think bike riding is something that only white people do. Not true. And that bike advocacy is dominated by white people and perspectives. That part is true. What can we do to change this? We are working on it, and invite you to join the effort. We welcome and embrace the diversity of experiences and knowledge of everyone in our city, particularly with regard to race, ethnicity, culture, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical ability.
You can learn about Major Taylor and the new film at the National Brotherhood of Cyclists, which Rainier Riders club is part of.
Todd Balf’s 2009 book is really worth reading, too. Major: A Black Athlete, a White Era, and the Fight to Be the World’s Fastest Human Being.
