Honoring the Past.
Embracing the Future.
TWBC traces its roots to 1888, when the Tacoma Wheelmen first organized local riders and helped make Tacoma one of the most bike-friendly towns in the Pacific Northwest. The original club faded with the rise of the automobile, but its spirit lived on. The club was revived in 1974 and renamed the Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club in 2016. Today we are expanding our vision to embrace new ways that we can impact our community through cycling.
The Tacoma Wheelmen organize local riders.
The club is revived for a new generation.
Renamed the Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club.
Biking for a Stronger Pierce County.
Biking for a Stronger Pierce County
For most of our history, TWBC has been known for its rides. That’s still the heart of who we are. But we’ve come to believe a bike club can do something bigger: help build a healthier, more connected, more resilient Pierce County. That’s what Biking for a Stronger Pierce County is about.
Five ways cycling makes Pierce County stronger.
Healthier people
An estimated 60,000 adults over 55 in Pierce County are physically inactive. Cycling is low-impact and well suited to staying active later in life. Through the Cycling for Active Aging Network (CAAN), TWBC works alongside 2nd Cycle and ForeverGreen Trails to remove the barriers that keep people from riding as they age, with welcoming, no-drop rides led by people who know how to support new and returning riders.
Stronger connections
Loneliness has been named a public health epidemic. The best remedy is regular, in-person time with other people, which is exactly what a weekly ride provides. Every group ride is a chance to meet someone new and keep showing up.
A shared civic life
On a bike, people who might never share a table or a neighborhood end up pedaling side by side toward the same place. That shared effort builds trust across age, income, and background in a way few organizations still can.
A cleaner environment
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Every new rider, and every car trip replaced by a bike, is a real environmental benefit.
Thriving local economies
Cyclists are good for business. Investments in trails and bike lanes return many times their cost in local economic activity, and a visible, active cycling community strengthens the case for that investment across the county.
Working together
We’re proud to ride alongside many great organizations already making Pierce County better for biking. Our role is to bring the people: the riders, volunteers, and advocates who help that work reach its full potential.
Join us. Together, we can go further.
Whether you’re a lifelong cyclist or haven’t ridden in years, there’s a place for you. Ride with us, volunteer for an afternoon or a season, or partner with us on a program or event.
Let’s build a stronger Pierce County together.
Contact Tom Butler, Community & Government Relations Director.
tom.butler@twbc.org