The phrase 'Bikes Up, Guns Down' is repeated by Bike Life supporters. Their message is to encourage people to ride bikes instead of having gun violence in the community.
One reason I decided to document this culture is because there is a gap of mutual understanding between lawmakers and the bike enthusiasts.
This bike life culture is also often misconstrued as dangerous, but the bikers say they are misunderstood.
One legged Greg stands on a friend's bike in a parking lot in Washington, D.C.
Miguel Harris pops a wheelie on a dirt bike in a parking lot.
I believe Black men are the most misunderstood people in the world. I hope that my work will clarify many misconceptions.
On Saturday, April 10, 2021, a group of dirt bike and four wheeler riders participate in a ride along in Washington, D.C., to pay homage to rapper and actor DMX a day after he passed away.
On Saturday, April 10, 2021, Joe Campbell participates in a ride along in Washington, D.C., to pay homage to DMX the day after the rapper and actor passed away.
Many community members vouch for the culture. And the men I saw partake in the ride on April 10, 2021, were there with good intention.
Michael "Polo" Roane, is a master rider from Southeast Washington, D.C. He's highly respected within the bike life culture. Roane describes the sport as a a stress reliever.
Denise Price of Northeast Washington, D.C., stands with her son Jeffrey belongings. On May 4, 2018 Price suffered a fatal collision with a police car.
"Rashad Bates “When I see the bikers, I watch them. They make me happy. I want to ride the dirt bikes.”
Rashad Bates “When I see the bikers, I watch them. They make me happy. I want to ride the dirt bikes.”
Pamela Brooks holds a photo of her late son Amir Brooks. "I got closer to the community when my son Amir passed," Brooks said. He was pursued by a police officer."
"[Bikers] represent Black people and Black culture," says Xavier Hickson. "They're important because they inspire little kids to live out their dreams."
Piera "Big 28" Barbour was someone that I really looked up to and how I really got into riding bikes," says Jimir Richardson, age 14. "I keep riding bikes because of the reactions from the people.
"My son has been riding dirt bikes since he was five — he's now thirty," says Robin McKinney, ANC Commissioner in Washington, D.C. "It got him away from a lot of crime growing up.
"If the bikers were here now I'd say to them I appreciate them for coming through, doing what they do for the kids, keeping them busy because a lot of people want to ride dirt bikes. Demarcos Pinckney
!["[Bikers] represent Black people and Black culture," says Xavier Hickson. "They're important because they inspire little kids to live out their dreams."](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/571d9dcc2b8ddefbf16b2252/1645574779788-A0GH720MWZDNWTZ756PN/Dee+Dwyer-Dirt+Bikers-Community-12.jpg)
