Our community spent an incredible day Learning, Growing, and Connecting!
On Saturday, October 19th, 2024, we gathered at Hosanna House in Wilkinsburg for the 11th Annual Women & Non-Binary Bike Summit. We filled the day with learning, connection, and inspiration around our theme “growing inclusive community,” and it was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces and new friends wanting to learn more about growing and exploring what it means to be a truly inclusive community.
Special thanks to Rachel Kim, our photographer who captured some incredible professional shots. See them all here:
The day kicked off with our keynote speaker, Josie Fouts. Josie, an Asian-American amputee and paracycling advocate, shared her journey of empowerment through cycling, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in outdoor spaces. Her insights sparked enthusiasm and reflection among participants as the group discussed takeaways and posed thoughtful questions for her.
After the keynote and Q&A, we led an activity surrounding our personal growth goals and community impact related to biking. Each participant created seed paper inscribed with their intentions—literal seeds to plant for growth, both personally and within our community.
Following lunch, we featured a series of breakout sessions tailored to various interests and needs:
DIY Bike Maintenance with Aryn Gaslowitz (Makeshift Bikes) and Athena Czerwinski (Free Ride Pgh), covered essential repair skills to keep our rides rolling smoothly. This session empowered attendees to tackle basic repairs and encouraged them to share their newfound knowledge with others.
Intersectionality & Overcoming Barriers to Participation, led by Zoe Neal (Outdoor Inclusion Coalition), provided a crucial understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized women and non-binary individuals in outdoor spaces, fostering important discussions on inclusivity. Participants shared their experiences and brainstormed actionable steps to promote intersectional inclusivity within their own biking circles and beyond.
Power Through: Tackling Challenges, Building Strength, and Facing Fears, co-led by Bailey (PMTCC, BikePGH board, PCRG, The Black Foxes), Opal Dickman, and Laura Davidson Brienza (Cycology LDB), inspired participants to share personal journeys and collective growth. The environment was supportive and empowering, fostering deep connections among participants as we celebrated each other’s victories.
Inclusivity Through Movement with Megan Sicheri and Tessa Karel from Open Up, incorporated gentle yoga and movement, reinforcing the importance of accessible spaces for all. This session allowed participants to experience inclusive movement firsthand and learn how to implement these practices.
The Afternoon Sessions left participants feeling empowered, equipped with new skills, and inspired to make a positive impact in their communities.
“The WMNBikePGH Summit is by far my favorite BikePGH event every year. As someone who has had the honor of being a part of 7 WMNBIkePGH Summits, I’m endlessly moved by the community connections forged at this event. We learn from local and national experts who teach, inspire, and share wisdom with all attendees. Through the connections made and ideas sparked at the Summit, we continue to build and uphold an inclusive space for people of marginalized gender identities in the cycling community.”
DeAnna Srock (she/her) BikePGH Director of Operations
GROUP RIDE & WRAP-UP
The day wrapped up with a group ride, one of the very best ways to celebrate our community! We had a blast on a bike route we curated around Wilkinsburg and surrounding area bike infrastructure. And as we rode together, it was almost as if the seeds we planted earlier were beginning to sprout.
We are so grateful for you all!
Thank you to everyone who came out to our 11th Annual Women & Non-Binary Bike Summit presented by Dollar Bank.
We’ll see you at the next group ride on November 3rd — and don’t forget to join our WMNBikePGH Facebook group for updates!
NEWSLETTER