At Grease Rag, we know about WTF-only spaces, and about working towards safer spaces. We acknowledge that no space is completely safe for any of us, but that safer spaces are places where we can be our whole selves because we agree to work together to fight the oppression and violence we experience in ALL OTHER SPACES.
Babes in Bikeland is the largest all-WTF alley cat bike “race” in the whole world. Likely, with 670+ riders in our 10th year, Babes is the largest alley cat in North America. Through this event, Grease Rag has been able to create safer spaces and educate the many many people interested in the Babes event.
What is Babes in Bikeland’s safer spaces policy?
BABES IN BIKELAND IS A SAFER SPACE
WHAT THE HECK DOES THIS MEAN?
A Safer Space means that we’re working hard to make the space feel safe and welcoming for EVERY BODY, regardless of their gender/race/ability/orientation, etc.
WHAT DOES A “SAFER BIKE EVENT” MEAN?
It means that we are trying to stop those little things from happening.
The safety and comfort of our Babes is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
BUT I ALWAYS FEEL SAFE AT BIKE EVENTS? WHAT’S THE POINT OF THIS?!
You might always feel safe at bike events, but not everyone does.
Women/Trans*/Femmes (WTF) identified people often don’t feel safe at bike events.
WHY? Things like constant sexual advances; hearing homophobic or transphobic “jokes”; hearing racist or homophobic language; using insider lingo or negatively commenting on someone’s gear or ability…
These things can make bike events into a hostile, stressful and dangerous place for some people.
It’s not just the one bad apple, it’s lots of people doing little things that pile up to create a threatening space.
Pay attention to your own words and actions and make sure you’re not contributing to the pile.
HERE IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO:
DON’T be a creep. We’re not here to impress, but to RIDE. Get enthusiastic consent before touching a Babe.
DON’T make homophobic or transphobic “jokes” or use language that is grounded in hate or discrimination.
NO gender policing. Don’t know a Babe’s gender? That’s fine — you don’t need to know.
RIDE safe and steady with a helmet and lights. DON’T take unnecessary risks. We want you in one piece at the party later.
LEND a hand to those who need it.
BE EXCELLENT to one another.
We are all here to have a good time. Bring your best self and KEEP IT CLASSY.
If you feel uncomfortable, PLEASE tell someone working the stop or the closest Babe.
DON’T brush it off or excuse it away. We want to address these things as they happen.
WE ARE BABES! THIS IS OUR BIKELAND! THESE ARE THE RULES:
DON’T BE A JERK
CELEBRATE YOUR WTF FRIENDS
BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER
How does Babes in Bikeland work with volunteers to create safer spaces for WTFs?
Stop Facilitators are the people you see on the race course. As racers, you only see us organizers at the start, and finish. This makes it extremely important that we train our volunteers, many of whom are cis men, to be great allies.
Vouching
Stop Facilitators are people who have been personally vouched for by a WTF we trust. These Facilitators are encouraged to vouch for volunteers they’d like to have at our stops. This keeps people we don’t know and don’t vouch for away from our Babes.
Visibility
We gave all stop volunteers a bright bike pin, and all Stop Facilitators were given a bright tshirt, so racers knew who to go to for information or if there was a problem at a stop. Identifying these volunteers is a crucial part of creating a safer, accountable space. Each stop had an “approved” list of volunteers who were able to be there- we don’t allow random folks to come and hang out at the stops. (We’ve had problems in the past.)
Training
We hold a mandatory orientation for Stop Facilitators where our goal is to support them in being A+ supporters of WTFs. We give concrete examples as tools to support you. Instead of “Be respectful,” we say, “Don’t make ‘jokes’ about gay or trans people, because it is disrespectful.” This is a handout we made for our Stop Facilitators that gets very specific. The last sentence is, “We’ve got your back.” We want to support and respect our volunteers, because that is the way that our racers will be respected and supported. I’m only a phone call away if something comes up.
I encourage everyone to read it, and give feedback about what is missing.
What are other safer spaces that Babes in Bikeland creates?
Starting line
When you rolled up to the starting line, there were a line of cones set up on the grass. This was the “WTF ONLY ZONE!” WTFs can go wherever they like, but cis men should not be in the WTF-only area. This is to create physical space for WTFs! Route, hang, snack, whatever! This is your space, this is your race.
86 list
After feedback from racers and volunteers, we instituted a no abusers, no perpetrators 86 list. We as a community have some broken steps in our staircase. If you know about the broken step, you can step over it and you’re personally in no danger, but by not calling out our abusers and perpetrators of abuse we allow them access to our community. We made a list, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, of people our WTF community named as “unsafe.” We take this very seriously. The list was given to Stop Facilitators and volunteers, and at to our security at First Avenue. We cannot guarantee the safety of every person, but we are committed to making a safer space through our best efforts.
Safer spaces agreements for vendors and service providers
Safer spaces means that all people promise to treat each other in ways that promote their safety and fight various oppression. We wrote these agreements so our vendors and service providers would have clear expectations about how to treat our Babes, and also how they can expect to be treated by you. Please check out the expectations in this agreement.
- Vendors will not be inebriated
- Vendors will not make comments about people’s identities (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.)
- Vendors will not use gendering language like “ladies,” or “ma’am.”
- Vendors will not make comments about or touch people’s bodies
- Vendors will not make assumption about ability, skill level, or knowledge (Ask, don’t assume!)
- Vendor signing this agreement will communicate the expectations to everyone working the event
- Vendors will be treated with respect! Any reported harassment will be taken seriously and dealt with swiftly.
- Babes in Bikeland organizers will be available for questions, and if anything comes up during the evening
- First Ave security will be on hand for security issues
- Is there anything else you would like to add to the list?
WTF only dance floor
We made several announcements throughout the night that WTFs were the only folks on the dance floor. What a magical time, dancing under purple lights, doing the wobble with Sweetpea! We did not have the ability to put up physical barriers, so some cis men did make their way onto the floor. If we knew them, we said something to them and asked them to tell their friends the same. If we did not know them, we do not make assumptions about people’s gender.
All-/no-gender bathrooms
#peeinpeace We had signs that indicated “Stalls” versus “Urinals,” and announced that bathrooms were all-/no-gender! Next year I would like to organize bathroom buddies for extra safety.
How does Grease Rag contribute to safer spaces at Babes in Bikeland?
Our goal is to find ways to support each other before, during, and after this event. Because Babes is one day, but WTF is forever.
Pre-Babes Wanderabout
We had 68 wonderful Babes come out for our Wanderabout this year. Our team works hard to learn names and pronouns, say hello to everyone, and our team is all about creating welcoming spaces. I hope you felt that! We do go arounds, skill shares, and all of the things that Grease Rag does best. We are especially friendly for Rookies, but if you are into friendship and slow rolling, you should join us next year!
Photo by Kat
Babes be brunchin’
Every year we have a long brunch bunch where people can just drop in and have some snacks, hydrate, and get questions answered. You are able to take off whenever, or say until the end and group ride to the start together! Anne was a our brunch host at Seward Cafe this year! Thanks, Anne!
Flags and buttons at the Grease Rag tent
That big purple tent is your safe space, Friends! Bug spray, snacks, buttons, flags… We try to create a meetup safer space that is just for you WTFs!
Anneka made a flagging system to support Babes during the race:
- Green flags- can help if you feel lost
- Orange- basic mechanic skills with a multitool or a pump
- Polka dots- open to riding in a group!
Anne made these beautiful pronoun pins. You can’t abuse my pronoun if it is a growling bear, right?!
Education and language
Grease Rag has been making language and educating ourselves and our Friends on what it is to be WTF-friendly since 2009. We wrote a lot of the language that Babes uses, and continue to lead our community to the front and center. WTFs to the front.
Tell us how to do better
We never stop learning. babesinbikeland at gmail or fill out this survey!!