AUSTIN, Texas — In 2020, protests shook the world after the death of George Floyd. It’s those demonstrations and calls to action that led Austinite Talib Abdullahi to bring people together.
Abdullahi decided to post a call out to his social media page inviting anyone who wanted to join and take a ride through Austin to take in what Black history has to offer.
Abdullahi didn’t anticipate the rides to take off the way they did. Fast forward to 2025, he alongside volunteers, turned it into an annual event.
“It’s really empowering and very comforting to know that so many people will show up, bring their bikes, bring their kids and everything, and take a part in learning about history very visibly in Austin,” Abdullahi said.
It’s called the Black History Bike Ride where riders stop at 12 spots throughout the city that first start at the Texas Capitol where Abdullahi highlights the history of the Texas African American History Memorial.
“We cover several different themes,” Abdullahi said.
Ariel Marlowe, the group’s community engagement leader, discovered the rides through Abdullahi’s social media callout in 2020.
“Finding friends in really meaningful ways through cycling and through building community and through connecting with Black history has brought a lot of joy to my life,” Marlowe said. “[It] has made living here feel more like home.”
There is no fee to join the rides, but Marlowe said they have merchandise and function through donations.
“It’s nice to kind of really welcome people into the space that we’re trying to create because it’s for everyone,” Marlowe said. “Black history isn’t just for Black people. It’s for everyone that lives here.”
The rides cover women’s Black history and the history of East Austin with pop-up rides available throughout the year. Recently, the group’s Black Women’s History ride was postponed until the end of March due to the cold weather.