Justice and Joy on Bikes

NHM Online Presents L.A. on Wheels, an online series celebrating the diversity of Los Angeles and its people through the lens of creative modes of transportation.

Los Angeles is often seen as a city of cars, freeways, and endless traffic. But for Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, it’s a city with the potential for transformation, powered by two wheels and a sense of community. Through her film Biking While Black, Yolanda advocates for safer streets and fosters a movement rooted in justice, equity, and joy.

Watch the video below to learn more about Yolanda Davis-Overstreet and her connection to social justice through her love of biking and her drive to unite communities.

A Lifelong Love of Biking in Los Angeles

Yolanda Davis-Overstreet is a proud Angeleno, born and raised in the historic West Adams neighborhood. Growing up in the 1960s, her love for cycling began at an early age when she rode bikes with her sister around the neighborhood. Yolanda remembers growing up in a community where kids rode their bikes outside every day. “What Los Angeles means to me is belonging,” she says. “It also means caring and making a difference.” By the time Yolanda was an adult, however, she had noticed that biking in her neighborhood had become increasingly unsafe and unmanageable due to car traffic and a lack of infrastructure.

“Being born in L.A. means that we get to dream, that we get to reimagine and be in a space like this. I definitely am an L.A. girl that has reimagined all my life.”

Her connection to the city deepened as she became a mother and an advocate. In 2013, while dropping off her young daughter at school, Yolanda saw firsthand the dangers children faced just trying to cross the street. This realization inspired her to act—first advocating for a crosswalk, then bike lanes, and eventually developing a vision of mobility justice that could transform how her community moves on two wheels. 

In 2011, Yolanda founded RIDE in Living Color, a “bicycling and mobility justice advocacy initiative” that promotes safe and accessible open spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists.

“L.A. on Wheels" and What it Means to Bike Together

For Yolanda, the concept of “L.A. on Wheels” is about more than cycling—it’s about reimagining how Angelenos move safely and proudly through their city. For her, riding a bike is fundamental: it brings joy, fosters connection, and builds community. Her organization helps people rediscover these simple pleasures through community rides that range from beginner lessons to bike repair workshops.

These rides aren’t just recreational—they’re transformative. They unite neighbors and strangers alike, connect riders with local businesses, and foster a sense of belonging that transcends racial and economic divides. Yolanda believes that group bike rides have the power to strengthen bonds between families and friends while encouraging people to get outside and rediscover their city. She teaches how two wheels can be a tool for joy, freedom, and justice, reminding everyone that despite our different paths, we share common ground. “The experience I want people to take away,” she says, “is recognizing how important [justice] is, and understanding that we can make it happen together.”

The rides also challenge stereotypes, offering a powerful counternarrative to the misconception that Black and Brown people don’t ride bikes or go long distances. Yolanda’s work isn’t just about making streets more bikeable—it’s about creating a space for BIPOC riders to share their stories. These diverse narratives, often overlooked, reclaim their rightful place on the streets of L.A. and show the power of mobility to build bridges and inspire change.

“I hope we collectively take away the importance of justice…meaning that together we can make so many amazing things happen”.

Building Community Through Justice and Joy 

At the heart of Yolanda’s efforts is the idea that cycling is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a tool for justice. Yolanda’s advocacy focuses on addressing systemic inequities, from redlining that left her neighborhood without bike lanes and crosswalks to the policing of—and sometimes fatal encounters with—Black and Brown cyclists. 

“When I ask[ed] the question, ‘Why doesn't my community have bike lanes?’ I had no clue that it had to do with justice,” she says. Yolanda’s admirable work on Adams Boulevard, where she helped secure bike lanes and traffic-calming measures, is a testament to her vision of what’s possible when communities come together, share their experiences, and demand change. 

Yolanda's organized rides often become catalysts for connection with a multicultural group experience. Bike rides have an organic way of bringing people together, often with bystanders spontaneously joining as they pass by. Public agencies, like the Department of Transportation and L.A. Metro, have also recognized Yolanda’s work and the role bikes play in building community. These agencies often support Yolanda’s group rides by providing bike rentals, public education, and safety information. 

Yolanda also includes local businesses in her rides, highlighting the interconnectedness of the neighborhood’s ecosystem. “I think there's a lot of education around what that bike lane means and why it's so important that we lift it up…[that’s] why we continue communication block by block,” she says. 

“The community council districts [came] to me saying, ‘What do you think about having a bike lane on Adams?’ And I'm like, ‘It's long overdue’!”

Looking Ahead: A Future of Mobility Justice 

As she enters her second decade of organizing rides and advocating for bike lanes, Yolanda is more committed than ever to creating a safer, more inclusive Los Angeles. In 2021, Yolanda decided to go beyond to direct and co-produce the short documentary film: Biking While Black: Continuing to Ride Through Decriminalization, Disenfranchisement, and Gentrification, which explores the intersections of race, mobility, and justice in L.A. 

Her valiant efforts have paid off, as the film continues to earn recognition and awards, including: 

• 2022 Best Bicycle Film prize at the UN Habitat Better Cities Film Festival 
• 2024 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Go Human Community Streets Grant Award to develop a framework for a mobility justice leadership curriculum based on the lived experience of stakeholders in the Arlington Heights community
• 2024 American Planning Association (APA) Los Angeles 2024 
• Planning Award for Communications Initiative 

If you ask Yolanda her opinion, the Biking While Black movement is all about the next generation. She wants Black and BIPOC Angelinos to be able to grow up in a city where they don’t have to drive somewhere just to feel safe on a bike. She hopes that they, like her as a child, “can exist in this bike riding space in my own neighborhood”. Through this film, Yolanda “celebrates the resilience, strength, and spirit of the Black community”. She is paving the way for a future where everyone, regardless of race, identity, or skill level, can experience the joy and freedom of biking. 

“Why we’re here today is to experience justice and joy on bikes,” she says. And to turn that justice into a reality for everyone, Yolanda continues to bring people together to reimagine our streets, our neighborhoods, and our beautiful city on wheels. 

“Really when it really started paying off is when it became community work. There's a lot of bike riders and it's all about them. It's all about their stamina. It's all about the hill they can climb or the distance they can ride. And I did all that.” 

Keep on Rollin’ 

Watch the documentary Biking While Black and check out events hosted by RIDE in Living Color. Do you know another Angelino who connects with their community on wheels? We want to hear from you! Join the conversation on social media and tag us @NHMLA with #LAonWheels.