Black history is still being made every day in the United States. For this week’s Black History Month blog post, we’d like to look at racial diversity and its place in outdoor recreation, specifically biking and running. Two environmentally sustainable modes of transportation and exercise, these activities may seem trivial to some. But for Black Americans, there are still glass ceilings to shatter within these communities.
Cycling
It seems that there is a prevalent lack of racial diversity in outdoor recreational sports. But you would be surprised to learn that the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2019 Participation Report shows that 26.3% of outdoor participants were BIPOC, with Black Americans above any other ethnic group. This brings us to the actual problem: A historic lack of representation.
Whether you notice it or not, cycling is often depicted in the lens of a particular class: white, cisgender, and able-bodied people. How do we break through the exclusive perspective that cycling has taken on?
We can start by sharing the mission of diverse groups in the cycling community that are creating inclusive spaces for Black cyclists. The All Mountain Brothers are part of the movement to diversify the outdoors with their BIPOC mountain biking group. Black Girls Do Bike are creating a community of Black women who share the passion of cycling. Diversify Outdoors is a group who works to promote diversity in all outdoor spaces for BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and any other identity that has been underrepresented.
Running
When a Sunday afternoon in Brunswick, GA, became a day of tragedy, the black running community mourned together for Ahmaud Arbery. On February 23, 2020, the 25-year-old young man was pursued by armed men and killed while on his daily jog.
The death of this innocent Black man highlights the terrifying reality for many Black Americans, not just those who run. But for the diverse community known as F.E.A.R., this heightened a daily threat for these runners. F.E.A.R., Forget Everything And Run, is an organization of young professionals with a passion for health, fitness, socializing, and running, who have paved their own space in the running community for Black and POC athletes in a predominantly white community.
Created in 2016, F.E.A.R. has since been recognized on Today, The Run Wave Podcast, Runner’s World, and more. Headquartered in Milwaukee, F.E.A.R. centers their mission on bridging the gap in the running community and building relationships. “Diversity is key and making sure all runners, especially minority runners, are represented.”
Representation Matters
Representation in these sustainable modes of transportation and pieces of a healthy lifestyle is so important. Cycling brings issues of economics and class: the cost barrier to buy a bicycle, the lack of safe bike routes and lanes in cities and towns, and overall, the discriminatory history of the activity.
Luckily, there are organizations popping up in local communities helping to close the gap in accessibility to bikes. In our own community, there are bike shops that collect donated bikes, refurbish them, and even provide training on fixing them, like BiCi Co. in Hartford, CT, and Bradley Street Bicycle Co-Op in New Haven.
As Black Americans reclaim their power and place in the cycling and running communities, they are showing the Black youth in our country that they are welcome, they are worthy, and they part of the shift in ending racism in outdoor recreation.
How can we fit a lifetime of history, accomplishments, and innovation into a single month? We make the most of every day. We do our part to teach, learn, and spread appreciation for those who may not have been respected or recognized in the past based on the color of their skin.
We must, as a nation, speak on the too-often overlooked achievements and contributions from Black Americans throughout history. We want to start Black History Month off by recognizing two inventors who altered the transportation industry and helped to innovate the sector as we know it today.
Granville T. Woods: First Telegraph Service for Moving Trains
Granville T. Woods registered nearly 60 patents in his lifetime and was a gifted engineer and inventor. From his teenage years, Woods worked a variety of jobs in the railroad industry—the area of work that would hold the key to his future.
Among Woods’ numerous inventions, the one that goes down in history as his most important is the induction telegraph. Created in 1887, this device allowed people to communicate over telegraph wires on moving trains, helping to speed up communication and go on to prevent train accidents and control other crucial errors.
Woods was proclaimed “the greatest electrician in the world” in his lifetime. He sold patents to some of the most famous inventors in history, like Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison. Edison actually battled Woods over patents multiple times and lost each case.
(Photo: Courtesy of The Booklovers Magazine, 1903)
Garrett Morgan: The Three-Light Traffic Signal
It’s hard to imagine driving without traffic lights to tell us to stop, go, and slow down. Until Garrett Morgan’s invention, the common traffic light only had ‘stop’ and ‘go’ signals. In the city of Cleveland, Ohio in 1923, Morgan hatched the idea of including a warning light after witnessing an awful carriage accident at an intersection.
Morgan's original patent drawing, 1923
The first black man in Cleveland to own a car, Morgan was more than just an inventor. He was a local hero, and a diligent activist for social and racial issues of his time. We urge you to read up on his fascinating life, especially how he became recognized as a hero for his invention of the gas mask and his contribution in the Lake Erie Rescue of 1916.
Can you begin to picture how many lives have been saved since Morgan’s invention of the traffic light? This innovation made life substantially safer for both motorists and pedestrians alike, and is still built upon today.
(Photo: Courtesy of the Department of Transportation)
The first full moon of the year is approaching and will be at its peak illumination on Thursday, January 28 at 2:18 PM EST (11:18 AM PST)! While the moon will be brightest at this time, it won’t be visible in our skies until sunset that evening.
January’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. But where does it get this name?
Tradition and Culture
Indigenous people of North America naming the moons had meanings connected to their societies, environment, and their methods of tracking the seasons. Different groups of indigenous populations had different names for the full moons, as their customs and ways of life were extremely diverse and far-reaching.
The Assiniboine people, for example, gave the January full moon the fitting name of the Center Moon, marking the middle of the winter season. In Lakota culture, this moon was known as The Moon of Hard Times,as January brings fierce weather and short supply of food and resources.
Why 'The Wolf Moon'?
The full moon of January is thought to have become the Wolf Moon because wolves were heard howling more during this time of year. While wolves howl at night for many different reasons including communication and territory, it was always associated with hunting and the lack of food in the harsh January weather.
Moons to Come
The traditional names for the full moons in the coming winter months are:
February: Snow Moon
March: Worm Moon
The beauty of a full moon is even more captivating once you learn the stories in its history.
What is it about our daily commute that feels so engrained in our lifestyle? Is it the ‘Me Time’, the ability to ease into our workday, the simple routine of it all? In the past, commuting was widely surveyed to be one of our least favorite activities. But now that it’s gone, many people find themselves missing it.
Maybe it’s the realization that we’ve lost that in-between time to listen to a podcast, clear our minds on our drive into work, or the sanctuary of being alone in our car. Perhaps we don’t realize how peaceful it can be to grab the window seat on a train, see the sun peaking over the horizon while driving to the office, or people-watch on the subway. When we think of things like traffic on our way home or jam-packed buses, it feels odd that we would miss our commutes at all.
Writing tutor at Southern Connecticut State University, Stephanie Kaesmann told us, “Watching the seasons change on the parkway is something I miss about my commute as I can only tutor online now.”
You’d be surprised at the original thoughts and moments of peace that can be fostered on our rather monotonous daily commutes. Whether it’s walking to catch the subway or half hour drives on the highway, being on the go can bring clarity, and ritual invites a welcome consistency when the world feels so uncertain.
While teleworking, we can create small moments of routine that can mimic the way our commutes get us ready to take on the day. Sit by the window with a podcast on to have your morning coffee. Start the day with a short walk. Change out of your sweatpants. Play a game on your phone. Jot down your goals for the day in a planner or notebook.
When your commute becomes a walk from your bed to your desk, we begin to realize how much we miss even the most mundane parts of our regular day. Take time to give yourself that in-between time and separation from work you may find yourself missing.
While you’re at it, you can use our commuter calculator to see how much you’re saving on your commute.
Weather has a substantial impact on our energy consumption, as electricity powers us through the cold winter months. Less daylight and warmth can bring our use of lighting and heating to an all-time high for the year.
A common NewYear'sresolution is to spend less.This year on Sunday,January 10,National Cut Your Energy Costs Daybrings awareness and tips to help us cut our usage down and save us moneyon our utility bills!
We have a few ways to cut back on energy consumption to start off the new year right.
Consider commute options
Fuel prices make up a good portion of the average household’s costs per month. Using public transportation orjoining a carpooleven one day a week can significantly cut costs and trips to gas stations. Similarly, people who carpool or use alternate modes of transit save on vehicle maintenance, which can beespeciallycostlyinthe winter months.
Lighting choices
It seems small, butthe average household dedicates about 5% of its energy budget to lightingaccording to the Department of Energy. Cutting your energy bill, even by 5%, is only helping yourself in the long run. Choosing more efficient lightbulbs like CFLs and LEDs as well as purchasing controls like dimmers and timers are small steps toward spending less on our utility bills this winter.
It is also worth mentioning that utilizing natural light during the day is always the most efficient choice, taking advantage of the warmth and light that comes in through the windows. Reducing your carbon footprint and energy bills is sometimes easier than you think!
Reduce water use
Taking shorter showers, only running the dishwasher and washing machines when completely full, and checking all faucets, toilets, and showers for leaks are all good ways to cut back on daily water consumption.Another way to be intentional and less wasteful is to never let the water run excessively while you brush your teeth, shave, or wash the dishes.
Lightening your energy costs makes room for some of life’s simple pleasures, and reduces financial stress in your daily life. With any kind of change to your lifestyle, be patient and take it day by day. Over time, your small steps will begin to pay off, and it will show on your utility bills.
