We are the agents of change and bikes are our tool
Our WMNBikePGH community came together October 7th, 2023 for BikePGH’s 10th Annual Women and Non Binary Bike Summit to connect, create, learn, reflect, and carve out space for each other. We celebrated our intersectional identities and how we can turn the gears for a better tomorrow. And dare we say… it was the best Summit yet! Check out our recap below to learn about this transformational day and the incredible humans who made it possible.
Shout-out to our awesome photographer, Cat Schrading, and check out the professional photo album here:
We started today off at East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) with a refreshing Open Up yoga class led by Carley Depasquale, and then we went right into our community-centric programming.
With our keynote presentation, we remembered the pioneering black wheelwomen of history and celebrated the black women continuing that legacy in today’s cycling world with Keshia Roberson, founder of Major Knox Adventures. To learn more about Keshia and the importance of recognizing the legacy of black women in cycling, check out our blog here.
Next, we got creative with an art project on our super cool Mary Mack Prints posters. Summit attendees were given the creative prompt: “Imagine you have all you need to feel comfortable and confident on your bike.. what does it look and feel like?” Some of us drew what came to mind, others used the poster as a journaling prompt. It was an engaging and creative way to express ourselves and a memorable keepsake from the day!
We shared and gave old gear a new home at our gear swap. So much great used gear found new homes. People had access to give and take home free bike parts, clothing, bags, and other gear. It was a hit!
We represented our neighborhoods and took the first step to connecting with our neighborhood advocacy efforts. We talked about our current transportation needs, and how we get around town, and made connections with other people from our neighborhoods. We also heard an inspiring spoken word poem by Sarah Scherk.
Next, we learned all about wheels and dreamed big with Opal Violet. Folks were able to try their hand at changing a flat while learning more about how our bike wheels function and the parts that make up our wheel sets.
After our hands-on session, we gathered in small groups to dream big and have community focused conversations. We talked about our current transportation options – what’s working and what needs to be improved. We looked at bike maps and thought about the missing connections and what it would be like to bridge those connections through infrastructure investments.
Another group of us got down and dirty mountain biking in Frick Park thanks to Dani Dawn, Alyssa Crawford, and Sara Khalil. Thanks to Venture Outdoor’s generosity, we were able to loan mountain bikes to people who have never ridden one before. Our amazing instructors took us through the basics of bike handling and body positioning on mountain bikes, and then we put our new skills to practice by riding trails in Frick Park!
We learned more about our bikes at a Know Your Bike maintenance class hosted at Free Ride. Thanks to Tobin Seastedt for helping educate and empower us to have a stronger understanding of our bicycles and how to maintain them!
We explored The Wheel Mill indoor bike park and learned the ropes with Karen Brooks and Carley Young. Folks who were brand new to the Wheel Mill learned from Karen basic bike handling skills and showed people how to use the beginner-friendly obstacle courses in the park. Everyone was able to explore the park and learn skills from Karen and Carely that will make them more comfortable with this style of riding. If you’re a woman or non-binary person interested in riding at The Wheel Mill, we recommend visiting for Women & Non-Binary Night on Monday evenings.
GROUP RIDE & WRAP-UP
And of course, a highlight of the day was getting out there and riding together! After the Summit programming concluded, we led a group ride across the city and then circled back to Square Cafe for an after-party celebrating our community. We had a blast riding on some of the best bike infrastructure in the East End and had a picturesque visit to the Point!
Throughout this incredible day, we broke barriers, we found our voice, we amplified the stories that matter –and we are so, so grateful for you all.
Thank you to everyone who came to our 10th Annual Women & Non-Binary Bike Summit presented by Dollar Bank.
And until then…. we’ll see you at the next group ride on November 12th — and don’t forget to join our WMNBikePGH Facebook group for updates!
NEWSLETTER