The streets of New York City have long served as a proving ground for BMX riders. Endless stair sets, handrails, ledges and iconic urban architecture have inspired generations of street videos, each adding another chapter to the sport’s history. The Bloom BMX’s new street edit, “The City in Bloom,” is the latest to be recorded.

“The City in Bloom” is the first all-women BMX street film, bringing together riders Angie Marino (USA), Bethany Hedrick (USA) and Emma Finnegan (UK) for a week of riding and filming across New York City. Shot in April, the project reflects the growing momentum behind women’s street BMX, both in front of and behind the camera.

Produced as a collaborative effort by The Bloom BMX co-founders Beatrice Trang and Angie Marino, the film was intentionally built to be an all-women production. Trang led filming with Marino capturing second angles, while Marino also took on editing duties. The trip was supported primarily by Vans, with additional backing from GoPro, Kink BMX and Sony Alpha Female.

For Trang, who has spent years documenting BMX contests and events as one of the few women working professionally in both photography and videography within the sport, the project marked an exciting creative shift.

“I’ve been filming BMX events and contests for a number of years, so it’s been a long-time goal of mine to take on a project that would allow me to explore the more creative side of filmmaking,” Trang said. “This project meant a great deal to me. Not only was it my first street project, but I got to create it alongside women I grew up riding with and watched evolve as athletes and people over the years.”

The street setting offered the freedom to experiment with storytelling and cinematography. Every rider approached the city differently, and Trang saw capturing those individual styles as one of the film’s biggest creative challenges.

“Each rider brought her own style, personality and approach to street riding, and one of my biggest challenges was making sure that individuality came through on screen,” she said. “Filming street gives you the freedom to experiment with movement, angles and storytelling. It pushed me creatively in ways I hadn’t experienced before.”

That creative freedom mirrors the heart of BMX street itself. Unlike park or dirt disciplines, street riding transforms everyday urban landscapes into opportunities for progression. Riders reinterpret familiar features—stairs, rails, curbs and ledges—with technical precision, creativity and persistence, often spending hours or even days working toward a single trick.

While women’s BMX street remains an emerging discipline, its growth has accelerated in recent years as more riders, photographers and filmmakers invest in its future. “The City in Bloom” adds another important piece to that ecosystem by documenting not only high-level riding, but the collaborative process behind creating a modern BMX film.

For Marino, the project stood apart from any previous filming trip.

“Over the years I’ve been on a lot of filming trips, but ‘The City in Bloom’ definitely meant the most to me,” Marino said. “This trip was the first of its kind, being the first all-female BMX street video. There’s something special about getting a group of incredible women together to push each other mentally and physically. We had a short timeline in NYC to create something, and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish.”

Marino, who has multiple UCI World Cup podium finishes, believes film projects offer something competitions cannot: a lasting creative legacy.

“Competitions and film projects are both fulfilling in their own unique ways,” she said. “With a film project, you’re creating something more meaningful. You have the opportunity to be creative, collaborate with a team and put together a piece that people can watch years from now. It’s less about beating someone else and more about expressing yourself, pushing yourself mentally and physically and creating something that can inspire others.”

That spirit of collaboration extended beyond the riding. Every aspect of the production reflected the team’s commitment to showcasing women’s talent throughout the creative process—from filming and photography to editing and storytelling. As one of the few women behind the lens in BMX, Trang hopes the project encourages others to pursue those roles as well.

“Being part of a small but growing group of women behind the camera in BMX is something I’m genuinely proud of,” Trang said. “I hope projects like this inspire more women to step into creative roles within the sport.”

Women’s street riding continues to grow, but there’s plenty more to fight for. X Games finally added a women’s BMX park medal event in 2024 after years of riders being limited to demos, but there is no women’s street competition. Meanwhile, men can compete in BMX park, BMX street, BMX dirt and BMX dirt best trick.

Projects like The Bloom BMX’s “The City in Bloom” help move the sport forward not only by raising the level of riding, but by creating space for new voices, new perspectives and the next generation of filmmakers and riders ready to showcase their talent.