Over the past week, we've been focusing on bike equity as part of National Bike Month and we're showcasing the work of bike equity leaders across the country. Today, we're highlighting the work of John Jones III of the East Side Riders.

John Jones III has served as President and CEO of the East Side Riders Bike Club in Los Angeles for more than six years. However, his work around the Watts community goes back much longer than that.

Jones has worked very hard to building communities around Los Angeles County through active living and cultural exchange.

Jones’ connection to Watts, Florence-Firestone and its surrounding communities started when he was younger, helping his mom with her nonprofit, helping others when his family might not have had anything to eat and learning more about community in Watts when he worked for the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC). He also worked for the LA Neighborhood Land Lrust as a community organizer, where he learned how to really organize and hear community members' concerns. Now he serves as a field deputy for Los Angeles Councilman Joe Buscaino.

“It is through my work with ESRBC that I was able to grow and learn how to channel my passion and desire for cycling to see the community be a safer, healthier, and all around better place,” Jones said.

Some of the events Jones and his club have organized include Ride4Love, Tour De Watts and CicLAvia feeder rides, in addition to ESRBC Thanksgiving and Christmas givebacks.

Jones said he sees everyone in the community as his family and he is devoted to reaching out and demonstrating that everyone can make things better by working together.

John Jones has worked worked toward strengthening communities around Los Angeles through active living and teaching others. Jones said it's all thanks to his family at home, his family on bikes and his ESRBC Family.

Please visit eastsideriders.org to learn more about Jones and the club. Also look for upcoming events on Facebook at Facebook.com/esrbc.