Advocate of the Month: Ashley Cleveland
Utah is home to many community bicycling advocates, who dedicate time and energy to making riding in their cities and neighborhoods more safe and accessible. Bike Utah is excited to highlight an advocate each month, with the goals of recognizing their work, connecting with more community members, and inspiring new advocates to take action!
“…turn back to folks who aren’t there- who can’t be there, aren’t accommodated for, or don’t feel safe and help change their struggles WITH them. Make room for them to speak.” - Ashley Cleveland
Name: Ashley Cleveland
Occupation: City Planner, Promise Program Manager
Associated Advocacy Group: Outdoor Afro, Tracy Aviary, GOED – Office of Outdoor Recreation, Curly Me
Position at associated advocacy group(s): Volunteer Leader, Trustee, Advisory Board Member, Board Member
Where is your favorite place to ride in Utah?
The Jordan River trail for exercise convenience, 300 E for city commute (SLC- grocery store runs, errands, getting the kid to daycare), and Notom - Bullfrog Road at Capitol Reef National Park for PLEASURE.
What is your favorite bike?
Novara with Shimano gears. I need a more advanced bike. I’m dreaming of a goofy elliptical bike though!
What is your focus when you are working to better your community?
Equity, gaps in services, and zoning.
What do you find the most rewarding about your work?
Talking to community members who are directly affected and seeing kids who used to be me. I’m that afterschool program latch key kid that needed a food bank and these resources to grow. There are parents who work very hard day in and day out to provide for a society that was not built for their tax bracket.
How does connecting with these community members help you continue your work?
Connecting with them makes me feel safe. I’m most comfortable with them, not in my office. The office culture does not reflect my culture- these communities do, which changes structures. It’s not taxing being with them, it’s taxing explaining struggle to folks who are unfamiliar with how barriers FEEL. For those who can’t empathize with exhaustion from existing, it’s much different from exhaustion from developing your dreams, desires, and status.
How do you avoid burnout with a full-time job, family, and many advocacy efforts?
BOUNDARIES. My calendar is my saving grace! I am completely ok with saying “no thank you”, “I can review this later”, or “I can’t but there is someone else who can help you”.
What future projects do you hope to see happen?
Bike Utah’s Youth BEST program at the Sunnyvale Park.
I want to see Sunnyvale Park Phase 2 completed in 2021, the Millcreek portion of the Jordan River Trail connected and the issues with pedestrian bridge connection remedied. A big shout out to Mike Winder for moving the ball forward on the trail. I cannot wait to see the pedestrian improvements on 39th South. Our engineering department and mayor are trying their best to focus on evenly dispersing the general budget.
What do you find most difficult about doing your work and what strategies do you use to overcome those difficulties?
Explaining equity and the need to serve underrepresented communities. I continually stress the need for data that incorporates race, gender, age, income- and call out the neighborhoods that are underserved.
My strategies at work include a lot of sitting and thinking first- thinking of existing connections and opportunities. Thinking of who’s not there and longing for them to be there at the table. When it is difficult- I as a woman have to sit down and prioritize my health. Your job is not your identity and trying your best to make things inclusive and close equity gaps is a lot more than what the structures I was raised in allows. I have to reserve my energy for my child. Some conversations can wait- or I can ask an ally.
How can we engage future stay connected to underrepresented communities and continue this advocacy work?
Find people who have been invested in underrepresented communities, get to know the new voices passionate about learning, and DOING the work to fill gaps. When I say people, I mean grassroots leaders- the folks who get people connected to resources and help neighbors navigate to service providers. Think of the rock stars of Mutual Aid efforts or workers who serve homeless street teams, social workers, BIPOC birth workers, sex workers, people who live in low-income housing.
READ, WATCH DOCUMENTARIES. Learn about the monumental struggles that BIPoC, LGBTQIA+, differently-abled, the elderly, and women face. Become genuine friends with someone who is not from any part of your community.
How can the cycling community in Utah better support your work/ be a better ally?
I think facilities that provide rentals- need to provide discounts to underrepresented affinity groups, general classes for “intro riders” and need to advocate to planning departments for improved infrastructure in places they don’t live WITH people who are not presently engaged.
How does Outdoor Afro SLC promote cycling amid your group?
Well, as a volunteer for Outdoor Afro- I lean on the existing expertise in our group first. We have some comfortable black cyclists who enjoy hosting a fun ride or two every year (shout out to my beloved Franque and Kenna), We have a cool person of color who works in transit and will host an informational ride on infrastructure (Shout out Adan Carillo of SLC Moves). We also have been given an awesome code from GreenBike (HUGE shout-out to Ben of GreenBike).
What was a favorite moment with getting your fellow members out on bikes?
My favorite Bike moment last year was enjoying the last bits of summer on the west side and stopping by some panadaeria’s for popsicles! Or maybe it was seeing women who hadn’t ridden bikes in decades hop on and have fun? Or my kiddo getting so excited about her helmet!
What is your go-to cycling wear when you go on a group ride?
Cycling wear- stretchy mom pants, the same dang pair of yoga pants I get from the thrift store that I pretty much live in. I have 4 pairs. Sports bras are good. Cotton shirts that are loose are great. It would be nice to own a couple of fancy skorts or shorts with vents. I have thick thighs and they get hot!
What do you want to see happen in the cycling world?
I’m the first Black city planner in Utah- that requires making room for others like me or who are not in the profession yet. Cyclists need to do this work too. Better cycling, biking, and mountain biking infrastructure require being engaged in planning- so join your community councils, planning commissions, and school community councils. Make sure that you aren’t just there to speak for yourself, but turn back to folks who aren’t there- who can’t be there, aren’t accommodated for, or don’t feel safe and help change their struggles WITH them. Make room for them to speak. Find ways to support them being there, whether it’s child care, stipends, transportation, and etc.
Do you have a follow-up question for Ashely? Would you like more info about your local bicycling advocacy group or have a specific active transportation project you’d like to see initiated? Do you know an advocate we should highlight? Email info@bikeutah.org!
