PMJ 2023 Highlights

PMJ has continued our commitment to mobility justice for BIPOC communities in 2023. We developed culturally relevant/community oriented mobility programs.

The following are some highlights:

Bike Programs:

Electro Bici (E-bike Library, Pacoima) – PMJ provided electric bike education trainings for 4 program cohorts, hosted 4 community rides to promote the program in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, and provided marshal training for Pacoima Beautiful staff to lead group rides past the life of the program.

Electro Bici Community Ride - May 2023

Electro Bici Dia de los Muertos Ride - October 2023

South Central Power Up (E-bike Library, South Central LA) – PMJ is leading a collaborative of South Central LA organizations including Ride On Bike Coop, TRUST South LA, SCOPE, Labor/Community Strategy Center, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, Community Services Unlimited, and Ride With Us bike shop to establish an E-bike library in South LA.

South Central Power Up e-bike test ride – October 2023

Bike Audits (South LA, Koreatown, Wilmington, Hollywood) – PMJ led a series of bike audits to engage BIPOC bicyclists with proposed LADOT planning projects throughout Los Angeles.

South LA Quick Build Bike Audit, August 2023

Community Rides (South LA, East LA, Wilmington, Mar Vista) – PMJ led a series of community rides in several BIPOC communities in Los Angeles promoting local art, culture, food, and people.

Wilmington Community Ride, February 2023

Venice Blvd Community Ride - July 2023

Community Planning (South LA, East LA, Wilmington, Watts) – PMJ led a series of community planning activities in BIPOC communities to engage people with planning projects in their neighborhoods. Community planning activities included street charrettes, bike rodeos, and bike/walk audits.

Mobility Justice Regional Roadmap

PMJ worked with Liberty Hill and ACT LA leadership to author a regional roadmap report for Go Biz (Governor’s Office) that calls to embed mobility justice principals in investments for ZEV programs and infrastructure.

During Black History Month 2021 our Bicycle Education Manager, Lena Williams alongside our Advisory Board Chair Yolanda Davis-Overstreet co-hosted several podcasts titled “We The People: Black Lives Roll’en,” where they discussed Black lives, mobility justice, Black history and cycling. To listen to the recordings, click here. Yolanda also released a short documentary titled “Biking While Black” where she ​​gathers the narratives of community constituents, grassroots advocates, CBOs, and city agencies around the topic of Black Lives bicycling in Los Angeles.

Our Project Director, Maryann Aguirre established PMJ’s leadership as mobility justice champions. She participated on the Latino/Latina Roundtable to discuss clean mobility options and mobility justice in BIPDowntown Los Angeles Tour TourOC communities. She also moderated a panel discussion with the Transit Center titled, “Supporting Parents: Policies for Transit Friendly Transit Agencies” alongside Jessica Meaney of Investing in Place and Clare Eberle from LADOT where they discussed public-facing policies that make transit work better for parents. To view recording, click on the links.

Programs & Policy:

PMJs longest standing program has been our culturally relevant bicycle safety education classes. In 2021 our bicycle safety education program continued to thrive through Metro’s Bicycle Education Safety Program and the Department of Public Health Vision Zero Program. Due to the COVID restrictions we were able to pivot and  conduct a hybrid of virtual and in-person education classes and bike rides. In total we hosted over 75 events with nearly 1,000 participants! Our community bike rides continue to be some of our most popular events. This year we organized the first ever South LA Mural Ride, Downtown Los Angeles Taco Tour in collaboration with L.A. Taco, and a self guided East LA Mural Ride.

Throughout the summer we participated in hosting a series of Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety classes with the Department of Public Health. We hosted classes in and around South East Los Angeles, Westmont/West Athens and West Whittier/Los Nieto alongside LACBC and Estolano Advisors. We were also awarded a mini grant through Metro for their “Adopt-A-Bike” program. PMJ successfully distributed over 40 refurbished bicycles to community members throughout Los Angeles for free.

PMJ has been an active member of the ACT-LA coalition. Last year we continued to advocate for BIPOC transit riders in LA through various campaigns such as; Metro As A Sanctuary, Divest to Invest and Fare Free Transit. We will continue to challenge Metro to divest from police contract and invest in alternative safety measures as well advocate for a fare free transit system for all.

2022 & Beyond:

As we begin 2022 PMJ looks forward to launching new programs that will benefit BIPOC communities such as:
 

LADOT Community First: PMJ will be part of a collaborative led by Dakota Communications that will support the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) with community engagement for projects developed for Vision Zero and Active Transportation Departments.

South LA Resident Advisory Council: PMJ will facilitate two of the trainings for the RAC cohort focused on mobility justice and the universal basic mobility.

East LA Active Transportation Education and Encouragement Project: PMJ is partnering with Public Matters, Pueblo Planning, and Esteban Torres High School to facilitate community engagement for proposed public transportation investments through workshops, walk audits, and bicycle rides.
 

Electro Bici: PMJ is partnering with Pacoima Beautiful to launch an electric bike library in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. A cohort of local street vendors, small business owners, and/or entrepreneurs will utilize the e-bike library as an economic resource for the community. PMJ will help develop the program's operations as well as lead training sessions for the initial cohort of e-bike library users as well as lead community rides to promote the bike fleet. 

Access Clean CA: PMJ will be a part of statewide network of CBO’s working with Grid Alternatives to promote the Access Clean CA program from the California Air Resources Board. PMJ will promote EV rebate programs as well as e-bike programs that will launch in the greater Los Angeles area.

PATH: PMJ will continue to partner with People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) affordable housing development to develop a bike share program for PATH residents as well as bike safety and basic bike maintenance workshops.

METRO B.E.S.T. program: PMJ will continue to work with Estolano Advisors and Metro to provide culturally relevant bike safety education classes and community bike rides in BIPOC communities throughout Los Angeles County with the Bicycle Safety Education Program.

We are so grateful for all the community love that has sustained our project throughout these years. As always, we welcome your collaboration and support. Subscribe to our newsletter or donate now to join the movement for mobility justice in Los Angeles!