Why is the Trump administration calling bike lanes ‘DEI’? | Dave Schilling
In this satirical opinion piece for the Guardian, writer Dave Schilling mocks the Trump administration's move to label bike lanes as "DEI" (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives, arguing the accusation makes little logical sense given how ordinary and unglamorous cycling actually is. Using his own inability to ride a bike as a comic framing device, he contends the administration's opposition reflects a narrower cultural anxiety about masculinity rather than any genuine policy concern, noting that Trump supporters have previously mocked figures such as Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg for cycling.
The piece notes that the US has around 4,400 directional miles of bike lanes, with the push for such infrastructure dating back to the 1960s. Schilling highlights that the administration has frozen or cancelled grants linked to bike lanes, called alternative transport options unworkable, and floated removing existing lanes, on the grounds that they reduce road space for cars and increase congestion. He counters this with studies suggesting bike lanes actually improve road safety by encouraging drivers to slow down, framing the administration's stance as ideologically driven rather than evidence-based.
In short
- Trump administration frames bike lanes as "DEI" and targets related funding
- Writer argues the label is illogical given cycling's ordinariness
- Piece links opposition to cultural attitudes about masculinity, not policy
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the administration’s position could argue that road space is limited and that bike lanes may reduce capacity for cars, contributing to congestion where cycling is uncommon or other transport options are impractical. They may favour directing public funds towards infrastructure that serves the greatest number of local residents, while weighing safety claims against local conditions and evidence about traffic effects.
The case against
Critics could argue that bike lanes are ordinary transport and safety infrastructure, and that cancelling grants or removing lanes on ideological grounds risks making streets less safe and limiting travel choices. They may point to studies suggesting protected cycling space can improve safety, and argue that decisions should be based on evidence and local needs rather than treating cycling as a cultural or political symbol.
Explained simply
Cycling in the United States has long relied on dedicated lanes to keep riders separate from car traffic, with the country's first such infrastructure dating back to the 1960s. Today there are roughly 4,400 miles of these lanes, and building them has generally been treated as a practical road-safety measure rather than a political statement.
The Trump administration has recently begun describing bike lanes as a "DEI" issue, a term usually used to refer to diversity, equity and inclusion policies in workplaces and institutions. This framing has coincided with the freezing or cancelling of federal grants tied to bike lane projects, along with criticism that such lanes take up road space needed for cars and worsen congestion.
The debate touches on wider arguments about transport funding, road safety and cultural attitudes towards cycling, which some public figures have mocked while others, including former officials like Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, have been associated with promoting it. Research cited in discussions on this topic suggests bike lanes can slow traffic and improve safety, giving the dispute a factual dimension beyond questions of culture or politics.