Jun 26, 2017

For a recent photo essay, MICA student Paul Lai turned the lens on his friends — a dedicated group of Baltimore BMX riders. “I think they don’t even have food sometimes,” he said. “But BMX is like their life.”

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — BMX riders freestyle tricks at second location the day. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Todd Heilmann from Baltimore is waxing and preparing the ledge for other BMX riders who will perform tricks later on. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — BMX riders lining up behind their friend waiting patiently for their turn. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — A BMX rider waits for his turn to perform his trick on this location. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Andre Savoy from Baltimore illustrated “Rail Ride”, a trick that earned him a title “One of the best tricks of the day”. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — David Zovko is in full focus mode while performing one of his tricks. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — BMX riders freestyle tricks at 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Andrew Mick (left), Ian Burke (right) both smiling underneath a cardboard box, hiding from the rain. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — BMX rider performs a “stall’, balancing with only his back wheel on top of a ledge. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Residents from the third location of the day came out to talk with some of the riders concerning the safety of young children who were watching the event. (Residents did not wish to be identified) Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Ian Burke (left), photographs David Zovko (right), as he performs the trick, “Feeble Grind down to a Manual ride off”. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Ryan Horan from Baltimore illustrated a “Fly-out” in front of many riders. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/2017 — Travis Pettit from Hagerstown, Maryland performs a “X-up” in front of many riders. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — BMX riders who came out for the event rush to grab prizes that were thrown out at the end of the day. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

: Baltimore, MD — 5/27/17 — Jeremy Caviness (cq), of Baltimore, is the director of the Annual Baltimore BMX street Jam. He feels that the event provided a safe haven for riders who are not familiar with Baltimore city, and together they can all explore the beautiful urban city environment that Baltimore has to offer. Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street Jam. Over 150 BMX bike riders gathered on 300 North Greene street, Baltimore. Together they spent the whole day riding through the streets of Baltimore and exploring places that were once hidden to many riders. (Paul Lai)

Paul Lai was just 13 when his parents moved his family from the island of Hong Kong to the suburban neighborhood of Arbutus, Maryland.

Though he didn’t speak any English when he arrived, he picked it up with the help of his friends from the neighborhood, who he biked with constantly. They rode BMX in parking lots and streets, in a local skate park. “I was like rarely in the house. I don’t like staying in the house,” he said.

For Lai, BMX meant freedom, exercise and the adrenaline spike from mastering a new trick. It also helped him learn to speak Baltimorese.

“There’s a way that they talk in Baltimore that is like really interesting,” he said. “I remember the first word I didn’t really understand was ‘yo.'”

After graduating from high school, Lai, now 22, studied accounting at Howard Community College. “My dad wanted me to do it,” he said. But in an art class, Lai met a new passion: photography. With some encouragement from teachers, he applied to MICA. Today he’s a senior there.

But, when he got to art school, Lai said, biking fell by the wayside. He lost touch with his old friends. But, when he heard they were getting together for the Second Annual Baltimore BMX Street jam earlier this year, he found the inspiration for a photo essay. He got out his bike — and his Nikon D7100.

“We had so much fun,” he said.

Lai, who hopes to become a conflict photographer, said he wants to share his friends with the world. “They don’t have a lot of things that a lot of people have – the only thing they have is this group,” he said. “I think they don’t even have food sometimes…. But BMX is like their life in a way.”

Photos and captions by Paul Lai. Text by Christina Tkacik.

In Baltimore, BMX as life

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