Trailnet Champion: Jay-Marie Hill
Each month we feature a member or members of our community that work to push Trailnet’s vision of Streets for All. Jay-Marie Hill is an incredible example of building community through biking, and they are our April Champion of the Month!
For Jay-Marie Hill (they/them), bikes are more than a way to get around; they’re a way to build community.
Whether they’re leading a ride, teaching a class, or volunteering at one of Trailnet’s Bike Rodeos, Jay-Marie creates spaces where people feel welcome to show up exactly as they are, whether they’ve been riding for years or are just getting started. Through their work with Black Trans Bike Experience (BTBE) and Fly By Bike Ride Skool & Culture Club, they’re helping more people access not just the mechanics of riding, but the joy, confidence, and connection that come with it.
Jay-Marie’s mother is an active cyclist, and passed on a love of traveling on two wheels. “I was given it as a gift,” Jay-Marie shared, reflecting on how biking first became part of their life. “And it’s something I can continue to pass on… to people who have not felt welcome or who just haven’t had the on-ramp that I’ve had.”
The idea of passing something along is at the heart of everything they do.
“I’m going to channel the people that have poured into me: my mom, other Black women riders, other Black queer and trans folks, leaders around the country,” Jay-Marie said.
In their work, Jay-Marie sees bikes as a way to help people reconnect — with their bodies, with their surroundings, and with each other.
“The through line is how you occupy space in your body. And sometimes that’s a terminology thing. It’s a gender thing. It’s a sexuality thing. It’s an identity thing. But the thing about bikes that I think I appreciate is that it’s really like a self-test, and it makes you get better when you have people. You sharpen each other, but ultimately you have to be the one to commit to your improvement, your forward motion.”
That philosophy comes to life through Black Trans Bike Experience.
Black Trans Bike Experience began as a bold idea: a multi-day ride from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. for the Trans March in 2019, rooted in building connections and celebrating the fullness of Black trans life. Since then, it has evolved into a series of rides, pop-ups, and collaborations that bring people together around bikes, community, and care.
But Black Trans Bike Experience is about more than that; it’s about creating space for Black trans and queer riders to exist fully and visibly, beyond the limited narratives that too often define them. Jay-Marie’s work centers life, joy, and growth, building a community where showing up as yourself is just the beginning.
As a League Certified Instructor (LCI) through the League of American Bicyclists, Jay-Marie brings both expertise and care to their teaching, helping riders build skills in a supportive, judgment-free environment. Fly By Bike, their new club, builds on that foundation, offering accessible, welcoming classes and group rides designed to help people feel more confident on a bike and more comfortable riding in community. Though classes have been in St. Louis, Jay-Marie also brought a Fly By Bike class to Washington, D.C. for the League’s most recent Bike Summit.
“It’s hard to learn in public,” Jay-Marie said. “So the goal is to hold a high standard so that it doesn’t take forever to teach you, so we can get to the rest of the work.”
That balance of high standards with deep encouragement is what makes their approach so impactful. Jay-Marie understands that learning something new, especially in a public space, can feel intimidating. So they lead with care, creating environments where people are not only allowed to try, but encouraged to.
That same spirit showed up when Jay-Marie volunteered with Trailnet at one of our recent bike rodeos, helping kids adjust their helmets and making sure their bikes were safe and ready to ride.
“I love kids,” Jay-Marie said. “I was a 4th grade and kindergarten teacher, so I have a natural knack for young folks and enjoying space and time. I just knew that I could offer something — both from my expertise as a BTBE group ride leader and just making people who have never done a task like a bike ride or a group ride feel safe enough to come outside a couple times. It’s really powerful to give people the gift of bikes, and I was grateful to join y’all that day.”
As a teacher at heart, Jay-Marie meets people where they are, creating space for new riders to build confidence and feel comfortable coming back again.
In a city where community runs deep, that perspective matters. Jay-Marie’s work helps fill gaps, creating more entry points for people to get involved, to build confidence, and to experience the freedom and possibility that biking can offer.
At Trailnet, we know that safer streets aren’t just about infrastructure; they’re about people. People who share what they’ve learned, who make space for others, and who help build a culture where everyone feels like they belong.
Jay-Marie is doing exactly that.
We’re grateful for the ways they continue to show up for this community, and for the care, intention, and connection they bring to every ride.
