Tarwheels Fun Ride

Youth from Triangle Bikeworks helped lead the Tarwheel's Fun Ride, a 6 mile tour of historic Hillsborough, NC. Triangle Bikeworks has been pitching in and helping this great cycling organization in this capacity for five years.

This year's tour offered a small glimpse into the vibrant and profound African American community that has flourished in Hillsborough, despite race laws, segregation, and discrimination throughout the history of North Carolina.

Hillsborough had a large population of freed blacks in the antebellum era, which was rare for a small southern town. African Americans created their own communities within the larger town. Unfortunately, much of this history has been lost over time. 

Women and many of their experiences have been overlooked by historians too. Prior to the mid-20th century, women had few legal rights, including the right to vote, hold property or own their own business without a man’s support.

Topping off the tour participants visited the

reconstructed 17th century Occaneechi Village located on the banks of the Eno River, close to where the Occaneechi had their village more than 300 years ago. The timing was spot-on and we were able to speak with an interpretive guide.