Community & Values

Our Vision

We envision a safe and healthy future where bicycles bring people together, eliminate inequity, and create thriving communities.


Our Mission

Cascade Bicycle Club brings people together to experience the joy of bicycling through transportation, recreation, and friendship. We collaborate with members, volunteers, and community partners to inspire people to advocate for a safe, equitable, and sustainable Washington state. We build confidence, leadership, knowledge, and community by teaching bicycle skills to all ages​.


Our Values

Equity:  We lead with a racial equity lens to eliminate inequities in community health outcomes and in mobility and transportation access. Bicycles are a tool for liberation.

Climate Justice:  Bicycles are a clean, healthy, and affordable solution to help solve the climate crisis, reduce transportation pollution, and create sustainable communities. 

Community:  We create opportunities for people to come together by removing barriers and fostering a sense of belonging. Bicycles are an integral part of creating connected, equitable and thriving communities.

Safety:  Safety is a right; we champion spaces that foster physical and emotional wellbeing.

Collaboration:  We share power, resources, and knowledge as a means to enrich lives and form mutually beneficial partnerships. We celebrate the existing strengths of our partners and participants and seek to be an accessible asset for others.

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Photo 1) An Asian man riding a recumbant bicycle on STP. 2) A Black man and a black child looking at each other while they bike in a protected bike lane on Seattle's 2nd Ave. 3) An Asian girl wearing an orange tutu and a Major Taylor Project jersey.

Commitment to Anti-Racism, Inclusion, and Belonging

Cascade is deeply invested in our vision of a safe and healthy future where bicycles unite people, eliminate inequity, and create thriving communities. To realize that goal, we have work to do in Washington state and nationwide to make bicycling accessible and safe for everyone, regardless of their skin color. Cascade and our sister organization, Washington Bikes, stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and oppose police brutalityDismantling white supremacy in our work and in our community must be at the forefront of everything we do. Our organization has committed to a Racial Equity Plan, as approved by our Board of Directors in April 2020, that reaffirms our commitment to eliminating racial inequities in our culture, policies, and practices. We are dedicated to working with our community and partners to overcome the vast  impacts of systemic racism within our organization and in bicycling more broadly. Much work remains. 

This page is a document to share our work as we continue to grow and learn on this racial equity journey. Please refer to this glossary of terms used or the online guide from Racial Equity Tools when leaning in and learning about race and racism.

Why Anti-Racism in Bicycling Matters

At Cascade, we work daily toward a mission of bringing people together to experience the joy of bicycling, collaborating to advocate for a  safe and equitable Washington, and building confidence and community by teaching bike skills to all. But we must also confront the reality that our streets are not truly safe for everyone and we have not done enough to equitably protect the lives of Black and Brown people on our streets, bicycling or otherwise. As former Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Tamika Butler said, “Bicycling cannot solve systemic racism in the United States. But systemic racism can’t be fixed without tackling it within bicycling.” As our racial equity plan makes clear, Cascade is committed to transforming from being a bicycling club working to diversify itself to one that, through bicycling, works to eliminate inequities in community health outcomes and in mobility and transportation access. 

In other words, we believe deep systems changes are needed to make our streets safe for everyone, and that undoing racist harms must happen in every aspect of our work. e We know from the data and from our community’s stories that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color experience bicycling differently. We believe we must actively fight systems of oppression and inequality if we hope to meaningfully contribute to the movement for Black lives. To do anything less would perpetuate these same systems and further harm Black and Brown people, on and off the bike.

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Boy with Heart Sign

How Can I Help?

There are many ways Cascade members, volunteers, partners, and supporters can advance racial equity, both within bicycling and in their communities. 

 

Cascade Bicycle Club Code of Conduct and Grievance Policy:

Cascade Bicycle Club centers its mission and values (equity, climate justice, community, safety, and collaboration) in all of its activities.

To support our mission and values, participants agree to the following Code of Conduct as a condition of participation in any Cascade program or activity:

As a Cascade Bicycle Club participant, I promise to practice good sportsmanship and conduct myself in a respectable manner at all bicycling and non-bicycling events where I am representing the CBC. (“Representing the club” is considered to be any time you are at an event where you are registered as a CBC rider, member, ride leader, volunteer, staff, board member, donor, or participant.)

  • I will conduct myself in a respectful manner, exhibit good conduct, and be a positive role model.
  • I will treat people with dignity, respect, and compassion to foster a trusting environment free of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination.
  • I will communicate concerns that arise with Cascade staff, if appropriate, as they arise in order to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.
  • I will promote inclusion by encouraging all, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
  • I will not harass, bully, threaten, alienate, discriminate, or make disparaging remarks to/against any person, and I will not harass or alienate others through my attire, verbal comments, or unwelcome attention.
  • I will refrain from non-consensual physical contact, sexual advances, obscene language or gestures, and other unwanted behavior.
  • I will display respect and courtesy for club staff, other volunteers, program participants, and property and I will follow the rules of the road.
  • I will display respect for all types of bicycle riders, including e-bikes, first-time riders, physically disabled riders, recumbent riders, and riders who are not perceived to be wearing or riding on high-end gear.
  • I will avoid consuming alcohol beyond the legal limits as well as other substances at CBC events and will not report to these events while inebriated or under the influence of illegal drugs.

Here are examples of how to live out our values on rides:

  1. Abide by all relevant traffic regulations whether on individual or group rides; respect rules of the road and maintain safe riding habits.
  2. Assist any rider having mechanical or physical difficulties on CBC rides when they are unable to continue to ride safely.
  3. Ride SMART: Stay alert, maintain space, act safely and predictably, respect the rules of the road, think ahead, and talk.

Cascade Grievance Policy

Membership in Cascade Bicycle Club is a privilege. Cascade riders, members, ride leaders, volunteers, staff, board members, donors, and event participants must be conscious of their role as ambassadors to the non-cycling and cycling communities, both out riding and online. Discriminatory, harassing, or disrespectful behavior while out on Cascade rides is wrong and harmful. Discriminatory, harassing, or disrespectful behavior online while interacting on Cascade’s social media pages or in Cascade-related groups is also detrimental to being a safe, welcoming, and inclusive bicycle organization.

Disciplinary actions may result in the revocation of the ability to participate in rides, being banned from social media platforms, or having all membership perks and/or privileges revoked. Membership may be suspended, revoked, or denied; if after due consideration, an assembled quorum of the Leadership Team determines by 2/3 vote, that a member is in material violation of this Code of Conduct.

Riders, members, ride leaders, volunteers, staff, and board members who witness inappropriate behavior or unacceptable activity should report it to the Executive Director, Lee Lambert, via this form. Please include the section of the Code of Conduct that was violated.

The Code operates in conjunction with the policies of Cascade Bicycle Club and with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations. Where differences exist, because of local customs, norms, laws, and regulations, we require the use of the highest standard of behavior or the most restrictive requirement that applies.