By Alexandra Loreth
You hear them before you see them. Boomboxes blaring, kids yelling in excitement, cars honking, spectators cheering them on.
Once a week in Stockton, hundreds of cyclists take to the streets. It’s part of a nationwide phenomenon referred to as “Bike Life.”
The group meets Sundays in Downtown Stockton around the noon hour. From there, the group takes a different route through the city, sometimes riding up to 30 miles in one day.
Kari McNickle is a transportation planner and President of the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, a non-profit community organization that advocates for bicycle safety. “I think it’s awesome how it’s pushing the conversation about biking, and I think it’s a huge symbol of the pent up demand that we have for recreation and outdoor fun,” said McNickle.
As group size has grown over the years, so has the controversy surrounding the rides.
Some community members worry about public safety. The sheer size of the group can take up multiple lanes, effectively shutting down roads along the route. There are claims that the group does not obey road laws, that minors ride without helmets, and that cyclists deliberately intimidate drivers.
Damon Dayton, a local professional BMX rider, who defended the rides and the importance of engaging Stockton’s youth.
These Stockton rides started about six years ago, but the community has seen participation grow since the beginning of the pandemic. In just the past few years, the group has gone from about 50 rides to well into the hundreds.
These Stockton rides started about six years ago, but the community has seen participation grow since the beginning of the pandemic. In just the past few years, the group has gone from about 50 rides to well into the hundreds.
Not everyone agrees with Dayton. On social media sites like Facebook and Nextdoor, conversations about the rides can become heated.
“This group started innocently as something to do during COVID. It’s morphed into bad decisions, poor examples and no accountability,” wrote a commenter on a Nextdoor post about the Stockton rides.
Another commenter on the Nextdoor post recounts a time that a group member rode towards her car with a light, temporarily blinding her and almost hitting her. She compared the feeling to being assaulted.
Riders say the rides provide an opportunity for people of all ages to get active, be outside, and see a different side of the city.
Robert Rambonga attends local group rides with his daughters, ages 12 and 14. He says, “It’s good exercise, first and foremost, and it gets them off their devices. You come across things that you don’t even realize are there when you’re just driving around town. Little artworks and murals, or little local shops that you don’t hear too much about. Taco trucks and vendors.”
Some also point out that the rides might not be necessary if Stockton were more bike friendly and safe.
“We have a lot of bike and pedestrian issues in the City of Stockton and a lot of it comes form the lack of infrastructure,” said McNickle.
In 2017, the City of Stockton published an update to their Bicycle Master Plan, which highlights the lack of city-designated trails, separated bikeways, and low-stress facilities. The plan provides a roadmap for implementing safe and accessible bicycle infrastructure through the year 2035.
McNickle said implementing these changes is a slow process, but in the meantime, she’s happy to see more people on bikes.
She hopes the energy of the group rides and surrounding controversy will push the conversation and lead to changes that make everyone – on both sides of the issue – happier and safer.
“Having the freedom to move safely and free from harm in your community in the way that you choose – that should be something that everyone has the right to do,” said McNickle.
There are multiple ways that the Stockton community can advocate for those rights. Join a local group ride, become a member of the San Joaquin Bike Coalition, attend city council meetings, or get in touch with your local representative or city staff to have your opinions heard.
