Thursday, February 23, 2012

Underground Railroad Bicycle Route

Exploring the Route to Freedom, put on by the Adventure Cycling Association. "To further our goal of encouraging people from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds to explore the landscapes and history of American by bicycle, Adventure Cycling began a partnership with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh in 2004. With America facing a national health crisis, Adventure Cycling and the Center for Minority Health saw a natural alliance born from common goals."



february is black history month. while i might scoff at one month per year to celebrate any one group of history, had it not been, i might not have found out about that terrific bike project of ACA. there are several routes to choose from that follow the historic underground railroad route where slaves worked there way north to freedom before the end of the civil war and the awesomeness that is juneteenth.

there are two main routes. the first one travels from mobile, alabama up to ontario, canada. there's also a brand new, and how i discovered this 5 year old project, detroit alternate route which takes you from oberlin, ohio to owen sound on lake huron's georgia bay.



this looks like it was an amazing undertaking with a lot of people on the advisory board in order to get this route just right.

Along the Niagara River
via ACA flickr page



here are some pics from the supported tour in 2007:

New friends
via ACA flickr page



many thanks to the many hands that had a say in this project. looks like an amazing route, full of history. history and bikes?! my two favoritessssst interests combined. pretty spectacular.

all other pictures are by dennis coello.

a big huge hat tip to the fine people over at outdoor afro, one of my favorite blogs ever. why? because it features african-americans in outdoor settings. if there's a US latino equivalent to outdoor afro and someone knows about it, please please please post the URL in the comments.

9 comments:

  1. Follow the drinking gourd.

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  2. the great water divide doesn't care who drinks from it, cause we all need it. kinda like freedom.

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  3. The Pittsburgh Major Taylor cycling club, associated with the Center for Minority Health, rocks. Just had to throw that in.

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  4. @bill? oh yah?! please do tell!! sounds like my kind of cycling club!

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  5. As I said, a spin-off of the Pitt Center for Minority Health, they do many community activities with the mission of increasing cycling as an activity for people of color in the city, but are welcoming of anyone. A good number of them were on that inaugural Underground Railroad trip.
    On one ride, I watched as a roadie with quads the size of my entire body delicately tailed a furiously pedalling 9 year old with quiet words of encouragement, to make sure he stayed safe. These people are real champions. And they ride a lot.

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  6. Thank you for this inspiring post! I learned about it through Outdoor Afro's Facebook page. I would like to ride the underground railroad!!! When is the next one, how can I learn more about registering...? Many thanks!

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  7. hi karen! i believe i responded to you via FB earlier today, but my suspicion is that that particular ride was one time only. the route is available for anyone to try it out. try searching for forums to see if anyone can go when you can, or get some of your friends/family members to join you for part of/all of it! :) please keep us posted on your adventures! thanks for finding us and commenting <3

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  8. Sorry I don't know about "US latino equivalent to outdoor afro" But I can research for you.

    Open Face Helmets

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