For a sport to truly grow, it must belong to everyone. Creating racers is one measure of success, but a more profound impact lies in building a community where every child, regardless of background, income, or experience, can discover the joy and freedom of riding a bike. In Durango, Colorado, Durango Devo is showing what is possible when community outreach is done with intention. Their work has become a powerful engine for diversity, equity, and inclusion and a strong model for USA Cycling’s Everyone Rides initiative.
Durango Devo’s strategy begins with universal access. The foundation of their outreach is the Bike Rodeo, a collaborative event that brings the sport directly to local elementary schools. In partnership with the Durango School District, the local police department, and the TBI prevention program Gray Matters, Durango Devo provides a fun, non intimidating first touchpoint with cycling for approximately 1,500 kids annually. Here, any child can learn to ride, play skill enhancing games, and learn essential safety practices with Devo coaches. This approach removes initial barriers and helps ensure a child’s first experience is positive and welcoming from the start.
Building on this broad foundation, Durango Devo deepens its commitment through targeted, culturally aware partnerships designed to engage communities that have been historically underrepresented in cycling.
- Compañeros de Devo: This program, in partnership with a local nonprofit supporting the immigrant community, engages Latinx youth by offering full tuition scholarships and hiring more Spanish speaking coaches. This removes both financial and language barriers, creating a comfortable and truly welcoming environment for families.
- Ute Tribe Partnership: Devo is partnering with the Ute Tribe to co-create culturally relevant cycling opportunities. This goes beyond a simple invitation, empowering the community to help shape a program that honors their perspective and makes it easier for Indigenous youth to join.
Durango Devo understands that true equity requires dismantling systemic financial obstacles. They tackle this head on by subsidizing class fees across all programs to keep costs low for all participants. For those who need it most, a $25,000 annual scholarship fund helps low income families cover fees and gear. This support is crucial for the 25% of their participants who come from low income households. Devo also ensures equipment is not a final barrier by providing bikes and helmets to any scholarship rider who needs them.
Durango Devo’s work is a strong example of how to build an inclusive cycling community. Their multi layered approach, combining broad outreach, deep culturally aware partnerships, and robust financial support, does not just aim for diversity. It builds the infrastructure to make it real. The result is a model that embodies the spirit of “Everyone Rides” and helps create a healthier, happier, and more equitable community, one pedal stroke at a time.
Learn more about Durango Devo at durangodevo.com.
