By Tihut Tamrat, Contributing Writer
On Saturday, March 1st, under a partly cloudy sky, cyclists gathered in Southeast San Diego in front of the Mental Bar for Brothers on Bikes, a Black Men’s Health Awareness Bike event hosted by Movement Matters Collective (MMC), led by the San Diego Bike Coalition. The event aimed to promote physical, mental, and social well-being while advocating for improved biking infrastructure in underserved communities.
“Historically a lot of times, because of a lot of obstacles, [the black community] doesn’t show up for themselves. At the same time it’s important to navigate and recognize that we didn’t create them and are a product of them, so we should intentionally change them,” said the cofounder of Movement Matters Collective, Brian Westpoint, highlighting the critical need for Black men to have spaces that support both their physical and mental well-being.
In preparation for the ride, Denice Williams, Shero of Black Girls Do Bike San Diego, gave a safety lesson for the excited bikers, “Try to have a distance between you so you don’t run into the tire in front of you. If you see anything in the road call it out,” as she made sure everyone knew the hand signals before getting on the road.
The day’s ride took cyclists through Southeast San Diego, starting on 63rd Street. “We’re gonna cross the intersection and go left on imperial for like half a block, then right on 62nd, right on Akins, and turn onto Market street. We’re gonna turn left on Euclid and turn right into Food 4 Less and go around the backside of the Jacobs Center, crossing over the pedestrian bridge, stopping at the Chollas Lake Park before heading back on Market Street, back out the way we came. Kinda like a lollipop,” explained Randy, instructor of the San Diego Bike Coalition.
The event also featured wellness vendors, such as Grandma Lulu’s Table, Live Well Center, Urban Collaborative Project, Mundo Gardens, and the Movement Matters Collective centering their discussions on Black men’s health disparities. Major Taylor Cycling Club San Diego, founded after Marshall W. “Major” Taylor, the first African American to win the cycling world championship in 1899, was also in attendance.
As the ride wrapped up, participants reflected on the importance of sustained advocacy for Black men’s health and safer streets—paving the way for a healthier, more inclusive future. Westpoint leaves us with these final words: “Find a method of movement that you enjoy so you can show up for yourself.”
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