Broad Street Bullies and Food Deserts
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 80. Enjoy the pleasant weather!
the juice:
It’s Thursday, so the Broad Street Bullies will be out tonight for a massive group ride that meets at the Carytown Kroger at 7 pm.
The first ride-out by the group was during the pandemic, Halloween of 2020, but momentum really picked up in the Spring of 2021.
Like many bicycle group rides, everyone stays together, meaning some members will “cork” (meaning to block) side traffic to ensure the entire group traverses intersections safely and together.
The purpose is similar to all group rides in terms of getting out there, but they’re also known for riding against traffic and popping wheelies.
Many drivers hate them, many think they are childish, but they’d argue that’s the point, to disrupt and create awareness of bike infrastructure and safety, or lack thereof.
RVA mag did an interview last year and their image summarizes the vibe:
I’ve had conversations with cyclists who fear they may be furthering resentment some drivers have towards cyclists.
Overall, I hope the impact is positive in the long run in terms of promoting cities designed for humans rather than cars.
the pulp:
A motorcyclist was killed after crashing into a power pole on Semmes Avenue in South Richmond.
RVA Mag offers it’s survival guide for broke students looking for something outside the dining hall but at the right price, with a focus on local spots.
Learn more about the process to design a permanent memorial at the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground at a community meeting on Sunday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Black History Museum, via Robin Schwartzkopf at RIC Today
the dive:
South Richmond News has a neat map of grocery store locations on Southside, with a 1-mile radius surrounding each store.
The map illustrates some of the food deserts that plague parts of the city, particularly along Richmond Highway (301).
Food deserts are typically defined as low-income urban areas where most residents are more than a mile away from a grocery store.
An article from thehumaneleague.org on the root cause of food deserts notes:
Grocery store owners avoid opening up shop in food deserts because market research suggests more affluent areas are more profitable. Some common characteristics across food deserts—smaller populations, lower rates of employment, higher rates of poverty—are the same characteristics that scare off retailers.
Community gardens, co-ops, and smaller grocers are suggested as solutions to reducing the negative impacts of food deserts on local communities.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have an extraordinary day RVA!
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