Black-led sustainable transportation groups SouthSide Critical Mass and Equiticity converged for the Chicago Bike Collective Ride – Streetsblog Chicago

Report on the Sixth Annual Chicago Bike Collective Ride

Event Summary and Contribution to Urban Sustainability

The Sixth Annual Chicago Bike Collective Ride was held as a collaborative event marking the conclusion of the warm-weather cycling season. This initiative was co-hosted by two prominent Black-led sustainable transportation organizations: the mobility justice nonprofit Equiticity and SouthSide Critical Mass. The event serves as a significant example of community-led action in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on urban development, health, equality, and climate action.

Collaborative Framework and Alignment with SDG 17

The event’s structure exemplifies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The partnership between Equiticity and SouthSide Critical Mass demonstrates a powerful model for achieving sustainable development objectives through community collaboration. The primary objective, as stated by Equiticity’s Community Mobility Rituals Lead, Nayla Hale, was to “uplift and unify the bike community of Chicago,” encompassing cyclists, local businesses, advocacy groups, and youth programs.

1. Equiticity Group: Focused on a tour of public art, including murals in Bronzeville and Hyde Park, and the Oakland Museum of Contemporary Art sculpture garden.
2. SouthSide Critical Mass Group: Undertook a route that culminated in supporting a local, Black-owned business in the Loop before returning to the South Side.
3. Unified Ride: The two groups converged and rode together for a portion of the route, symbolizing community solidarity and a shared commitment to sustainable mobility.

Advancing Sustainable Cities and Reducing Inequalities

The ride directly addressed several key SDGs related to urban living and social equity.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By promoting cycling as a viable mode of transportation, the event champions sustainable urban mobility. The routes were designed to engage with public spaces and cultural assets, such as parks and public art, enhancing the accessibility and appreciation of community heritage.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: As an initiative led by Black organizations focused on mobility justice, the ride actively works to reduce racial and spatial inequalities. It promotes safe and accessible transportation options in communities that have historically been underserved.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The deliberate choice to patronize Wilma’s Famous BBQ, a Black-owned business, highlights the event’s contribution to inclusive and sustainable economic growth at the local level. Participant Danielle McKinnie noted the importance of this support.

Promoting Health, Well-being, and Climate Action

The initiative’s impact extends to environmental and health-related development goals.

Contributions to Health and Climate Goals

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The event encourages physical activity through cycling, which has proven benefits for both physical and mental health. The communal nature of the ride also fosters social connection and community well-being.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By advocating for and participating in a zero-emission form of transport, the Chicago Bike Collective Ride contributes directly to climate change mitigation efforts by reducing the carbon footprint associated with urban travel.

Conclusion

The Sixth Annual Chicago Bike Collective Ride was a successful multi-objective initiative that advanced a sustainable urban agenda. Through a strategic partnership, the event promoted sustainable transport, supported local economic development, fostered community health, and addressed systemic inequalities. It stands as a replicable model for how grassroots community action can effectively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals within a major metropolitan area.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article focuses on a community cycling event. Cycling is a form of physical activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle, contributing to the prevention of non-communicable diseases and enhancing overall well-being.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The event organizers made a conscious decision to support a local, Black-owned business. As stated by a participant, “It was good to support a Black-owned business, and we appreciated Wilma’s hosting us.” This action promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth by supporting small, minority-owned enterprises.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The event was organized by “two of Chicago’s Black-led sustainable transportation groups,” including the “mobility justice nonprofit Equiticity.” This highlights a focus on empowering and promoting the social inclusion of a specific racial group within the urban mobility landscape, directly addressing issues of equity and justice.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The event promotes cycling as a form of “sustainable transportation.” It utilizes public spaces like parks (“Nichols Park,” “William David Park”) and public infrastructure (“Lakefront Trail”). Furthermore, the ride included a “tour of public art” and “murals throughout Bronzeville,” which is an effort to protect and engage with local cultural heritage.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The community bike ride encourages a physically active lifestyle, which is a key preventative measure against many non-communicable diseases. The social nature of the event (“unify the bike community”) also contributes to mental well-being.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities… and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.” The group’s decision to patronize “Wilma’s Famous BBQ,” a Black-owned business, is a grassroots action that supports a local small enterprise, contributing to inclusive community-level economic activity.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity…” The event, being organized by and for Chicago’s Black cycling community through groups like “Equiticity” and “SouthSide Critical Mass,” is a direct example of empowering and promoting social inclusion for a racial group that may face barriers in urban mobility.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.2: “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all…” The article is centered on promoting cycling, a key form of sustainable transportation. The involvement of a “mobility justice nonprofit” underscores the goal of making this transport accessible for all community members.
   • Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” The ride was intentionally routed to include a “murals tour of Pilsen” in past years and a tour of “murals throughout Bronzeville and Hyde park” and a “sculpture garden” in the current year, demonstrating a community effort to engage with and appreciate local cultural heritage.
   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” The ride utilized multiple public parks and the “Lakefront Trail,” demonstrating the use of green and public spaces for community-building and recreation, thereby promoting access and inclusivity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Implied Indicator: The number of participants in community-based physical activities. The article describes a “large group” formed by the convergence of two separate rides, implying a significant number of people engaging in healthy, active recreation.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Implied Indicator: The number of community initiatives or events that intentionally support local and/or minority-owned businesses. The specific mention of supporting “Wilma’s Famous BBQ” serves as a qualitative data point for this indicator.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Implied Indicator: The existence and sustained activity of community organizations led by and serving minority or marginalized groups. The fact that this is the “sixth annual Chicago Bike Collective Ride” organized by “Black-led” groups indicates a sustained, long-term effort toward social inclusion and empowerment.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Implied Indicator (for Target 11.2): The frequency and scale of events promoting non-motorized, sustainable transport. The annual nature of this large, collaborative ride is a clear indicator of progress in promoting cycling.
   • Implied Indicator (for Target 11.4): The number of community activities that incorporate local cultural sites. The ride’s route being designed specifically to view “murals” and a “sculpture garden” is a direct measure of this effort.
   • Implied Indicator (for Target 11.7): The level of community use of public green spaces for organized events. The use of “Nichols Park” and “William David Park” as start and end points for a large community ride indicates these spaces are accessible and utilized.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: chi.streetsblog.org