Man brings bike movement for economic reform for Black people to Tacoma

Seattle resident Doc Wilson started a biking movement he hopes will help equalize economic access for Black people — and he’s bringing it to Tacoma.

Wilson, who is a life coach, started Peace Peloton in June, creating a biweekly gathering of cyclists making up a “peaceful demonstration on bicycles” that combines support for Black-owned businesses with a citywide bike ride. While his organization began and has grown in Seattle, Sunday he will be opening Peace Peloton’s inaugural chapter in Tacoma.

“We’re not necessarily just a cycling organization; we’re also an advocacy group, and a group for economic reform,” Wilson, 52, told The News Tribune.

Each ride starts at a Black-owned business and ends at a Black-owned business, and riders are encouraged to buy food and support businesses. Wilson said that while many of the riders aren’t familiar with the businesses beforehand, he estimated that about a quarter of the group continues frequenting the businesses after the ride.

The ride then goes through traditionally red-lined neighborhoods, which Wilson says opens people to culturally rich histories, communities and businesses they hadn’t heard of. At some locations, community leaders, such as individuals who had been part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, speak to the crowd.

At the first gathering in Seattle, Wilson was expecting 30 to 50 people to show up. More than 350 turned out, he said.

“I look out at the white people and the young people and the children biking together — people from all walks of life, doctors and postmen and homemakers,” Wilson said, speaking of the events. “That just feels very meaningful.”

People have reached out to Wilson from London, Los Angeles, New York and Portland, Oregon, interested in starting a chapter there. But Wilson’s first expansion of the movement will be in Tacoma, with the first gathering on Sunday, Aug. 9, beginning at the People’s Park. There is no cost but donations are accepted.

At the gathering, Wilson will introduce the Peace Peloton Tacoma captain, who will be in charge of organizing future gatherings and events in Tacoma. Plans for more events in Tacoma will depend on the turnout at this first gathering.

Wilson emphasized that all one needs to join is a mechanically sound bike. One reason Wilson chose to make change through a peloton, or biking group (no relation to the Peloton stationary bike company), was his own experience reflecting on community biking groups.

Wilson, who loves to cycle, found that many times biking groups can be intimidating to join, especially in cases where the whole group has expensive bikes or is of the same race.

“Somehow the image of this expensive sport denies access to a certain demographic of people,” he added. “We want to make sure that we give access to people”

Access is key to Wilson’s mission — while he is glad to bring the community together through biking, his ultimate goal is to foster more equal access to economic opportunities for Black communities.

Wilson’s ultimate goal is to create more initiatives to lower barriers and provide opportunity for Black-owned businesses, such as potentially creating a small business incubator program, mentorship programs for people who want to launch a business, and seed money initiatives.

“I’m going to do everything to make sure all people have the opportunities to design their own lives and the access to resources that they haven’t had,” he said.

Wilson is hoping to see even more riders at future gatherings supporting the local businesses and supporting equal economic access — typically around 20% of the crowd is made up of regular returners.

While Wilson grew up in Gary, Indiana, he now considers Seattle home and said he has been excited to begin this organization in the city he loves. The idea has been on his mind for years, and he knew that now was the right time to bring it to fruition.

“Something has to be done on behalf of the people who have been denied access to these resources for too long,” he said. “We have to go out and do it for ourselves. We can’t wait for others to fix this for us.”