Pedaling Toward Community Impact: From Bike Advocacy to Food Justice
What began as a small bicycle advocacy initiative in 2017 has become a multi-layered nonprofit rooted in food justice, community wellness, and equitable public space.
From 2017 to 2021, Uptown & Boogie Bicycle Advocacy focused on raising awareness for bicyclists in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. We supported hundreds of cyclists through community bike rides, helmet giveaways, street safety education, bike repair and maintenance, and many essential workers with free gear and support.
While our mission has grown to include farmers markets, urban agriculture, and youth programming, we’ve never forgotten our biking roots. This year, we proudly brought back Bike to Work Day, which has been held at St Nicholas Miracle Garden on St Nicholas Avenue since 2019. Bringing it back in 2025 was a full-circle moment for us, blending our roots in bicycle advocacy with our expanded work in food justice and community wellness.
Bike to Work Day Returns to the Garden
In May 2025, during National Bike Month, we proudly returned our Bike to Work Day Pit Stop for the first time since 2019. The event occurred at our community garden along St Nicholas Avenue, a space now serving as a seasonal farm stand, compost site, and gathering place for workshops and youth-led programs.
We welcomed pedestrian and bicycle commuters to work, providing bananas, red and green apples, and granola bars to help fuel their morning rides. With the support of our partner, the New York City Department of Transportation Vision Zero team, we also distributed over 220 free bike lights, along with safety resources and community information. The event was more than just a morning snack—it was a celebration of how public space can be activated for health, safety, and connection.
The response was incredible. Riders thanked us for showing up in the neighborhood, and new community members learned more about our weekly programming. It reminded us that even a small gesture, like a granola bar, can significantly impact when it’s part of something larger.
From Two Wheels to Transformational Work
Today, we run farmers markets in Harlem and the Bronx, host youth-led workshops, operate a community garden and greenhouse, and create programs that bring fresh food, creative expression, and educational opportunities to underserved communities.
We’ve distributed thousands of pounds of locally grown produce, created seasonal internship programming, and offered art, wellness, and STEM activities for kids aged 4 to 13 at our Kids Club. We’ve also welcomed community members of all ages to participate in composting, seed starting, and seasonal celebrations.
Yet our goals remain rooted in the values that launched us: equity, access, and empowerment. Whether helping someone ride to work safely or ensuring a family has fresh fruits and vegetables for the week, we believe everyone deserves tools to thrive.
Why It All Matters
Events like Bike to Work Day represent more than a return to tradition. They reflect the potential of what’s possible when we reimagine community space as a place where people can gather, grow, and go further together.
Our work fills critical gaps in neighborhoods like Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, where public resources can be limited. We provide access to safe cycling resources, nutritious food, green space, and youth development opportunities to all while celebrating the vibrancy and strength of our communities.
But none of this is possible without support.
Help Keep These Programs Rolling
Every bike light given away, apple we offer, seedling we start, and child we teach depends on people like you who believe in this work. If you’ve ever felt the power of community or seen what happens when people come together to make a difference, we invite you to join this momentum.
Your donation helps sustain our programs year-round, including:
- Weekly farm stands and farmers’ markets
- Bike safety and environmental justice programming
- Youth leadership and education initiatives
- Composting and sustainability efforts at the garden
- Seasonal events like Bike to Work Day
🚲🌿 Donate now to keep this movement going.