Where Roads, Riders, and Communities Meet: The Humanity Reviews

 When I created the Humanity Reviews under Bikers Across The Nation, I did not create them as a ranking system, a popularity contest, or a paid feature. They were never meant to be a cool kids table or a closed circle. They were created as a human acknowledgment system. This concept began in 2021 with a very clear intention. I wanted to support local. I wanted to support human. And I wanted to recognize real work happening in real communities, whether that work came from bikers, non-bikers, businesses, organizations, institutions, or individuals. Recognition matters when it is honest, unpaid, and rooted in lived experience rather than optics.

  From the beginning, these reviews were built on listening. I listened to bikers. I listened to non-riders. I listened to communities. I listened without trying to fix, brand, or own anyone. I removed my bias where it did not belong, but I intentionally carried forward values that matter to me on a human level: unity without conformity, accountability, boundaries, respect, self-reflection, and refusing to generalize or dehumanize people. This is not about pretending everyone is perfect. It is about recognizing effort, consistency, integrity, and real impact without toxicity, exploitation, or ego.

  Humanity Reviews are intentionally broad because humanity does not live in one lane. A review might recognize a road, a park, a diner, a biker bar, a local shop, a club, a rally, a nonprofit, a police department, a city council, a school, a storyteller, or a single person who quietly shows up every day. Political belief does not matter here. What matters is whether someone stands on human ground, respects the Constitution, avoids toxic behavior, and produces real results that the community itself reflects back.

  These reviews are not ranked. Numbers are not hierarchy. Someone listed later is not less important than someone listed earlier. Making the list at all is the recognition. You could be number fifty-five and still be number one to me, because you made a difference that was seen, remembered, and documented. The impact you make is the point.

  As travel expanded in 2022, the reviews became grounded in firsthand experience. They are based on where I’ve been, who I’ve met, what I’ve observed, and how people continue to show up over time. Past honorees remain honored. New honorees are added because humanity does not expire at the end of a calendar year. This year, the reviews are being organized by state to reflect where work has actually been witnessed, including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Wyoming, Indiana, California, and Washington, with Oregon to come as relationships grow.

  These reviews are meant to build bridges between riders and non-riders. They are meant to highlight safe and neutral spaces, places that welcome people, and communities that treat human beings as human beings. They are not meant to overwhelm good people, exploit kindness, or turn recognition into entitlement. Humanity Reviews exist to encourage respect, support, and connection, not consumption.

  Humanity Reviews are never paid for. There are no bribes, no logos, no hidden fees, and no pay-to-play. Charging for recognition would destroy the entire concept. The reviews themselves are free. The mission continues through donations, sponsorship of the overall work, and community support that allows travel, presence, and outreach to happen responsibly. Supporting the mission supports the ability to keep showing up. To do these reviews quietly, and share them loud.

  Bikers Across The Nation stands as a humanitarian organization first. We stand with bikers even when we do not all agree, because humanity comes first. Boundaries exist for toxicity, but humanity remains the foundation. This organization is intentionally flexible, grassroots, and human. It is meant to move, adapt, and grow over time rather than become rigid, political, or controlled by optics.

  The Humanity Reviews follow a defined but human-centered category structure. These categories exist to acknowledge the many ways good work shows up in the world, not to box people in.

  Places, Roads, Travel and Safety include Best Place for Historical Sites That Welcomes Bikers, Best Road for Bikers, Best Park for Bikers, Best Place for RV, Camping, or Living Off the Road Bikers, and Best Place to Meet Different Riders.

  Food, Drink and Social Spaces include Best Place to Eat for Riders, Favorite Biker Bar, and Road Stops That Feel Like Home.

  Shops, Services and Industry include Best Place to Shop for Riders and Mechanic Work on Bikes, Best Harley-Davidson Shop Overall, Best Local Shop Committed to the Community, Best Biker-Owned Business, Biker Business That Is Breaking Riding Barriers, Best Resale Motorcycle Parts Store That Focuses on Community, and Best Biker Sales Associate.

  Media, Storytelling and Creators include Best TikTok Biker, Best Instagram Biker, Best Facebook Biker Group, Best Social Media Biker to Inspire the Masses, Best Biker Radio, Best Biker Magazine That Inspires a Community, Best Biker Storyteller, and The Photographer Capturing the Spirit of the Biker World.

  Individuals, Human-Centered Recognition include The Biker That Inspires Others in a Humanity Way, The Biker Who Inspires Us to Travel and Be Better, Male Rider That Inspires Us, Female Rider to Inspire Other Female Riders, Old School Biker That Inspires Me, Rider of the Year That Inspired Me, Most Inspiring Club President, The Little Biker That Deserves to Be Recognized, and Best Biker Boss Award.

  Clubs, Groups and Community Builders include The Club That Has Strength and Takes That Strength to the Community, The Club That Inspires the Care for Club Life and History, The Club That Shows Up for the Community and Other Biker Charities, Club That Made a Difference This Year With Me Directly, A Club That Inspires Us, Inspired the Local Community to Treat Bikers Better, The Overall Biker Group That Brings Humanity Back, and Best Overall Supportive Biker Community.

  Events, Rallies and Gatherings include Best Biker Rally the Local Community Supports, Biker Event That Is Turning Heads, The Swap Meet That Brings Bikers Together, Bike Night That Has Had the Best Reviews, and Vendor or Act at a Biker Event.

  Education, Safety and Advocacy include Best MSF School and Biker Organization Making a Difference.

  Nonprofits and Charity Work include Best Charity Ride, The Nonprofit That Really Is Doing Nonprofit Work, and The Nonprofit Work That Is Inspiring.

  Unity, Peace and Culture include The Groups That Is Uniting, The Peacemakers Who Brought Unity to the Black Set, and Organizations That Have an Amazing Connection With All Chapters.

  Craft, Art and Culture include The Leather Makers, Cigar Shops, and Patch Creators That Inspire.

Be on the look out in middle of January for the reviews! Please share them!

  If you would like to keep supporting us in doing this work, please consider sponsoring or donating to our process for Humanity Reviews. Your support helps make the travel, time, presence, and care required for these projects possible and allows us to continue recognizing real people, real places, and real impact across communities.

  Cash App donations: $wherebikersunite

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