For most of our history, TWBC has been known for its rides. If you've been a member for a while, that's probably how you found us: a morning loop, a Signature Ride, a group of friendly strangers at the trailhead who turned into friends somewhere along the way.
The rides aren't going anywhere. But if you've visited twbc.org lately, you may have noticed we're talking about something bigger, and I want to take a few minutes to explain what it is and why it matters.We call it Biking for a Stronger Pierce County. The
idea is simple: the bicycle is a vital tool for a community. And if the bike is
vital, then the local bicycle club should be a vital community partner, one
that can help build a healthier, more connected and more resilient county.
Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future
This club has deep roots. In 1888, the Tacoma Wheelmen
organized local riders during cycling's first great boom. That original club
faded as the automobile took over, came back to life in 1974, and took its
current name, the Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club, in 2016. For more than fifty
years since the revival, we've been a place where riders of every skill level
could find their people.
What's changing now doesn't leave that rich history behind.
It builds on it to reach for higher goals.
Five Ways Cycling Makes Pierce County Stronger
When we sat down to think about what a club like ours
actually contributes to the place we live, five things kept coming up.
Healthier people. Federal health guidelines call for
at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity
aerobic activity each week. According to a CDC report released
this spring, only 47.2% of American adults hit that mark. More than half of us
aren't getting the exercise our bodies need. The numbers also slide as we get
older, from 54% of adults aged 18 to 34 down to 38.4% of those 65 and up. Here
at home, an estimated 60,000 Pierce County adults over 55 are physically
inactive.
Cycling is one of the easiest ways to close that gap at any
age. It's low-impact, it's fun, and three 50-minute rides a week will get you
to 150 minutes without ever feeling like a workout. A weekly group ride does
even better, because people keep showing up for a ride they enjoy with people
they like. That's why our rides span everything from casual social loops to
longer training and challenge rides, so there's a starting point for everyone
from new and returning riders to seasoned century riders.
For older adults, we've gone a step further with the Cycling
for Active Aging Network, or CAAN, which we run with our partners at 2nd Cycle
and ForeverGreen Trails. CAAN rides are welcoming and no-drop, led by riders
who know how to support someone who is brand new to the bike or coming back
after years away, including helping older adults get comfortable on e-assist
bikes.
Stronger connections. Loneliness has been named a
public health epidemic. The best remedy is regular, in-person time with other
people, and a weekly group ride delivers exactly that. Every ride is a chance
to meet someone new, and a reason to keep showing up.
A shared civic life. On a group ride, people who
might never share a table or a neighborhood end up pedaling side by side toward
the same destination. That shared effort builds trust across age, income and
background, and trust is something every community could use more of right now.
A cleaner environment. Transportation is the largest
source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Every new rider, and
every car trip swapped for a bike trip, adds up to a real benefit.
Thriving local economies. Cyclists are good for
business. Investments in trails and bike lanes return many times their cost in
local economic activity, and a visible, active cycling community makes the case
for those investments easier to win in every corner of the county.
Bringing the People
We're not trying to do this alone, and we're not trying to
duplicate work others already do well. Organizations like ForeverGreen Trails,
the Foothills Rails-to-Trails Coalition and 2nd Cycle are already making Pierce
County better for biking, and part of every TWBC membership goes to support
them. As I wrote after the Leafline Regional Trails Conference last week, the
groups that get trails built are the ones that bring real capacity to the
table, not just applause.
TWBC's role in that picture is to bring the people: the
riders, volunteers and advocates who help that work reach its full potential.
And that's where you come in.
A Lot of People, a Little Time
Here's the honest part. Everything above runs on people. A
no-drop CAAN ride needs a leader and a sweep. A trail day needs hands. A
community meeting needs someone to book a speaker and get the word out. Our
ambitions have grown faster than our volunteer roster, and the only way to
close that gap is with more of you.
The good news is that we're not looking for a few people to
give a lot of time. We're looking for a lot of people to give a little time.
An afternoon. One ride a month. A season, if you've got it. Most roles need no
experience at all, just a willingness to show up.
There's a role that fits the time you have, whether that's
leading or supporting weekly group rides, helping at CAAN rides, pitching in on
a trail day, supporting training and challenge rides, planning social events,
fundraising for Pierce County cycling programs, advocating for safer streets
and better trails, or helping behind the scenes with membership and
communications.
Right now, three roles would make an outsized difference:
- Membership
Coordinator: Keep our members connected and engaged, so the people who
join us stick around.
- Meeting
Coordinator: Host our quarterly community meetings, including booking
speakers, promotion and logistics.
- Signature
Ride Coordinator: Work alongside the ride captain on promotion, rider
surveys and improvements that make our Signature Rides more welcoming to
new riders.
Signing up takes a couple of minutes. Head to the TWBC volunteer page, click
"Register as a volunteer," check the areas that interest you and when
you're usually free (weekends, weekday evenings, weekday mornings or flexible),
and a volunteer coordinator will reach out. If you've got bigger ideas, or your
organization wants to partner with us on a program or event, email me directly
at tom.butler@twbc.org.
Together, We Can Go Further
The next time you're cruising the Pipeline Trail or winding
along Chambers Creek Road, take a look at the riders around you. Some of them
found their way back to the bike after decades away. Some of them came for the
exercise and stayed for the friendships. All of them are proof of what this
club does when it's at its best.
People in Tacoma have been riding together since 1888. Whether you're a lifelong cyclist or haven't ridden in years, there's a place for you in what comes next. Give us a little of your time, and let's build a stronger Pierce County together.
Sources & Further Reading
- TWBC:
About Us: Biking for a
Stronger Pierce County
- TWBC: Volunteer with TWBC
- CDC
National Center for Health Statistics: Aerobic
Physical Activity Among Adults Age 18 and Older: United States, 2024