Ways to Ride

Coast-To-Coast Border Ride

September 10 – November 14, 2021
San Diego, CA to St Augustine, FL

In order to get up-close and personal with the wonderful people of the border-lands along the US-Mexico border we are going to travel at a biking pace from San Diego, California to St Augustine, Florida along the southern border of the United States.

This 3,200 mile trek will include events with those who live along the border and who personally know the personal humanitarian struggle as well as the systemic issues that need to be addressed along the border and in our national immigration system.

This tour will allow people to see the system in place along our southern border including the Wall and Fencing, border crossing sites, and detention centers. We will also meet the caregivers and peacemakers who live and work in the border-lands and who know first-hand what we must do to have a more perfect union along our Southern border.

We will be coordinating with cities around the United States to host their own community bike event bringing together people from all backgrounds in order to increase personal connection and understanding.

Want to Join Us for a Mile or all 3,200 Miles?

Let’s make this clear right from the start. No, you do not need to be an elite cyclist to join us on this trip. If you can ride your bike, you are already prepared to join the ride. We invite you to join us on our journey for as much as you would like to ride. You are welcome to ride the full distance each day, or ride part of a day. If you are interested in joining for multiple days there is a fee of X per day. With this fee we will provide you with meals, in-tour travel, and biking support. You will pay for your housing/hotel costs on your own at facilities we have pre-selected. See the route here.

Distance Each Day

Distances each day will range from 30-60 miles, with the average being 50 miles per day.

Cost

Hotel/Housing costs are on your own. We will be making the arrangements for housing and you will cover your own costs.

Bikes

Many of the riders will be using standard bikes, but E-bikes and recumbent bikes are also welcome. We are working to secure a small fleet of E-bikes for riders to use. You are welcome to bring your own bike.

Support Vehicles

There will be support vehicles to transport bikes and riders when needed. These vehicles will carry water, supplies, food and riders personal items.

Community Bike Rides

Saturday, October 9 or Sunday, October 10, 2021
Host a community We The People Bike Ride in your town

Goals

Human connection with those who have immigrated
Tell the stories of people all across the United States who have come as refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. These personal connections will inspire and shape our understanding of who we are as a nation and who we can be.

Providing opportunities for fun, personal engagement, and story-telling
By engaging in the fun of a bike ride, you will meet those who live in your community and are most impacted by migration.

Public call for Common Good Immigration and Border Practices
Allowing people of faith and faith communities to put their faith into action by joining the other organizations and efforts in your area in supporting migrants and calling for an orderly, welcoming, understandable, equitable, and accessible system.

How To

We encourage you to customize your event experience. Please consider using these examples for organizing your We The People Community Ride.

Create a Family Oriented Event
Organize a family-oriented event with speakers, food, and a short bike ride.

• Organize a 30-60 minute event that includes speakers, a bike ride, and some food.
• Have a speaker tell a bit of their story of migrating to the United States. Consider keeping the story time short if there are kids present.
• Connect with Faith Communities in your area that includes immigrants and invite them to join the event and tell their stories.
• Connect with migrant, refugee, asylum supporting organizations in your area and ask for a speaker to join you. Or ask for materials to distribute. Or, consider taking a tour of a facility.
• Share videos from the cross-country We The People Ride.
• Share the call for Common Good Immigration and Border Practices.

Organize a Ride
Recruit riders to go on a group ride under the banner of We The People Ride. 

• Share stories during the ride.
• Share the ride on social media.
• Share videos from the cross-country We The People Ride.
• Share the call for Common Good Immigration and Border Practices.
• Invite riders to do per mile fundraiser for the We The People Ride effort.

Virtual Bike Rides

Join along on your own journey whether that is out on the road, at home on a bike, or a health club or cycling center. Follow along on the tour online, choose a route that connects you with the people of other cultures and countries; select an instructor in your virtual class who has a migration story of their own.

Other Ways to Participate

Individuals and organizations are invited to sponsor a rider, provide financial support, and provide food/housing/help along the border route. People can also participate in non-biking events along the border route.

If you are an organization and would like to be a sponsor, contact us here.