San Francisco's first-ever Black history bike ride kicks off in Bayview

Around 150 people pedaled from Downtown to Bayview for a day of history, celebration, and exercise.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 2:47am by Ben Kaplan

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Bayview resident Janet Allen-Williams was one of around 150 people who attended San Francisco's first-ever Bayview Black History Month bike ride on Saturday. The 4-mile ride, which went from the Martin Luther King Jr. Fountain in Yerba Buena Gardens to the Ruth Williams Opera House in Bayview, featured stops where cyclists learned about historical Black figures like Mary Ellen Pleasant and William Alexander Liedesdorff.

Why it matters

The event was part of an effort to get more Black people out enjoying the outdoors and cycling, which is often seen as a necessity rather than a recreational activity in the community. It also aimed to highlight lesser-known Black history in San Francisco and bring the community together through a shared experience.

The details

At each stop, cyclists learned about historical Black figures. At South Park, Shariff Wynn from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition taught the crowd about Mary Ellen Pleasant, a Black woman who became a multi-millionaire and funded John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. At Crane Cove Park, artist Fred Noland spoke about William Alexander Liedesdorff, a ship merchant and captain who was the first Black diplomat in the United States. The event was organized by the Bicycle Coalition and Livable Cities, with three tour guides leading the ride.

  • The bike ride took place on Saturday, March 1, 2026.
  • The ride started at 10 a.m. and ended around 1:30 p.m.

The players

Janet Allen-Williams

A 63-year-old Bayview resident who attended the bike ride.

Kat Fernando

A participant who traveled from Salinas to attend the event with her boyfriend Michael.

Shariff Wynn

A member of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, a co-organizer of the event, who taught the crowd about historical Black figures at the stops.

Fred Noland

An Oakland-based artist who designed the event's art and spoke about William Alexander Liedesdorff at Crane Cove Park.

Derek Lockett

A participant who learned about new historical figures, including the 'Big Five' Bayview women who spearheaded affordable housing efforts.

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What they’re saying

“We should get our bikes an award or something. But they gave us pinwheels and a bell, so those are never coming off now.”

— Kat Fernando

“You get a prize!”

— Shariff Wynn, from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition

“There's a lot of history here that doesn't get talked about. It gave people who didn't know how much Blacks contribute to San Francisco more information.”

— Derek Lockett

“As far as I'm concerned, cycling is something so universal that we all need to get back to. It keeps us together and unified, no matter the color, the skin, the nationality, we are all brothers and sisters.”

— Future Tissere Edwards, Bay Area native and avid cyclist

“It was kind of shocking. There was a little kid pedaling away and some guy couldn't wait.”

— Maureen Persico, volunteer for SF Bicycle Coalition

What’s next

Organizers plan to make the Bayview Black History Month bike ride an annual event, with the goal of expanding it to other neighborhoods in the future.

The takeaway

This event highlights the importance of celebrating and educating the public about lesser-known Black history in San Francisco, while also promoting cycling as a way to bring the community together and enjoy the outdoors.