Since November 2008, Sunday afternoons at Bike Pirates have been open exclusively to trans, women, & non-binary folks. On this day, access to the space, including access to all parts, sale items, and library, is reserved for individuals who identify as women, transgender, or non-binary people. (Small and accompanied children are also allowed.)

The goal of Sundays is to try to address the difficulties many women, trans, and non-binary people encounter when trying to access cycling by creating as safe a space as possible for learning, socializing, and empowering our selves and each other.

Combatting Oppression

Our ultimate goal at Bike Pirates is to create an anti-oppressive environment for people to learn and work together every day that the shop is open. Trans, Women, Non-binary Sundays began when several people involved in Pirates came together with encouragement from other community members to ask for dedicated shop time. Women, trans, & non-binary folks are often heavily discouraged from developing their mechanical skills, and the cycling community tends to be pretty cis dude-centered. We believe that providing shop hours specifically for women, trans, & non-binary folks to learn from each other is an important way of making Bike Pirates a safer space for a broader range of people. As Sunday participants gain experience, we hope that they may feel more comfortable coming into the shop other days of the week as well.

Although we do not have exclusive space organized around them, we recognize that other oppressions including racism, classism, ablism, and heterosexism are also important barriers to participation at Bike Pirates and in the cycling community more broadly.

Allies who are not trans-, woman-identified, or non-binary can support Sundays by:

• Respecting the space. If you are not woman-identified, trans-identified, or non-binary, please come to the shop during our other open hours!
• Taking us seriously. We have created this space because we feel like we need it. It is hurtful to ask people who are trying to claim space whether they are joking!
• Being aware of the ways you interact with others at Bike Pirates. Creating a positive, anti-oppressive environment is everyone’s job.
• Educating yourself about issues affecting trans folks and women.
• Explaining to other potential allies why it is important to support trans, women, & non-binary exclusive spaces. It is often helpful for dudes to hear it from other dudes!

If you have questions about this type of programming, check out this super-informative FAQ page from Edmonton Bikes!