Slow Roll Chicago celebrates community and history

It’s been a fast ride for Slow Roll Chicago, one of the newest bicycling groups in the city. After a few successful events, the group's final ride in 2014 is planned for this weekend. 

The ride, called Mending Broken Fences, is in partnership with the Chicago Police Department's 11th District office, and its aim fits Slow Roll's goal of improving communities and reducing violence by way of riding bikes. 

We ride to utilize the activity of bicycling as a tool to strengthen neighborhoods, connect neighbors and transform communities, the Slow Roll newsletter stated. This bicycle ride is an important step towards improving the relationship between the Chicago Police Department and the community. It will be a tremendous effort in creating a relationship between the community and CPD that is built on trust and familiarity, where there is an active collaborative effort focused on making our neighborhoods safer and more liveable.

The ride will begin at noon this Saturday, Nov. 15 at the 11th District CAPS Office, 3151 W. Harrison St., in Chicago. A meet-and-greet with refreshments will precede the ride at 11 a.m., and there will be a pizza party and youth recognition event following the ride.

The route will take riders from the West Side to the Museum Campus and Northerly Island, then back to the 11th District office. 

Slow Roll Chicago is a community-based organization uses bicycling to connect a diverse group of people and improve communities through local bike rides and related programs.

Group members say the goals of the ride are to celebrate history and community and to encourage people to be active and explore their communities. 

Slow Roll continues to grow, and Chicago chapter co-founders Olatunji Oboi Reed and Jamal Julien recently spoke with Streetsblog about their mission. Read the full Q&A here. In a recent DNA Info interview with Reed, he said, We want to use bicycles as a mechanism to improve our communities.

To get involved, go to the Slow Roll Chicago website. For updates and event information, you can also follow the group on Facebook and Twitter.