If you are from California, you may have experienced the thrill of being engulfed by a sea of bike riders. One minute, walking ... the next, swimming among young men on bikes. These riders can easily take up a few city blocks. Many of these young men are showcasing a myriad of stunts, ranging from intricate wheelies to standing on saddles. Some of these students may be from Cal Prep.
The Bay area is one of many American cities highlighting and elevating this niche culture. San Jose, Richmond, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and Los Angeles are also making marks. "Bike Life" is a term that embodies both biking and living. It is a subculture born out of pain, then turned into creativity, not unlike other social and culturally related activities. Riders flaunt their talent, continually create new tricks and hone their bike skills. One must be passionate about riding, maintain a positive mindset and be serious about having fun. It’s a way of life.
Bike Life is becoming more visible, commercial, politicized and sadly, more policed. The broader issues around social justice and discriminatory policing have impacted the simple act of riding a bike on city streets. To put it bluntly, the data on how often young riders are cited and ticketed in the Bay area is disturbing.
But like so much else in our society, Bike Life culture was shaped by both the Covid virus and the nation’s painful and long overdue reckoning over social justice. It turned a casual passion into something more.
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