Bike Texas Honored by NAACP

Posted: 12/09/2011

Whether it’s in our Mutual Aid Calls or at our Leadership Retreat, we talk a lot about building an inclusive bike-ped movement that engages and involves all members of our diverse communities.

Advocates in the Lone Star State are putting that goal into action.

At its 75th Annual State Convention, the Texas NAACP honored Bike Texas with a President Award — “For going above and beyond the call of duty to develop interest in biking and green benefits from biking in the African American Community.”

The recognition was well deserved. “BikeTexas has a history of nurturing diversity, and bringing leaders into the bike culture,” the advocates note on their blog. One way they’re connecting with the black community is through organized rides with the NAACP in cities like Kileen and Houston. So it was only fitting that the advocates got folks pedaling at the NAACP Convention, too.

“Leaders from several NAACP chapters participated, including an enthusiastic group of collegiate chapter leaders,” Bike Texas wrote on its blog. “NAACP President Gary Bledsoe and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price also participated in the ride. Brenda Chuleewah, Bike Texas’ Teacher Training and Program manager, was impressed with all of the women on the ride, saying the group was a broad mix of gender and age.”

According to Bike Texas: “This is the first time in the history of the NAACP that a bike advocacy group received an award for helping to create more diversity in the cycling culture. Bike Texas is honored to be a part of this historic moment.”

Keep track of Bike Texas’ efforts on its blog.

Photo: Robin Stallings, Executive Director of Bike Texas, receiving the award from NAACP president Gary Bledsoe.