{"id":32403,"date":"2016-02-24T16:42:24","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T22:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=32403"},"modified":"2016-02-24T16:55:38","modified_gmt":"2016-02-24T22:55:38","slug":"women-take-biking-into-their-own-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/women-take-biking-into-their-own-hands\/","title":{"rendered":"Women take biking into their own hands"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Elyse Samuels<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2012, four women bicyclists banded together out of frustration over the lack of women in the biking community in Chicago. Through their initiative and passion they created Women Bike Chicago, an organization that supports women in their biking endeavors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want female cyclists to feel like they have a voice,\u201d said Elizabeth Adamczyk, Women Bike Chicago Chair. \u201cThat \u2018by women for women\u2019 adage still pertains. Whoever you are there\u2019s a bike for you, and it can be just as unique as each individual person. That\u2019s one of the fun parts of cycling: it\u2019s not a one sized fits all mode of transportation.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Although many people in the biking community agree with this idea of individuality, several women in the biking community say they don\u2019t feel accepted in an activity that is predominantly male. Women Bike Chicago and other organizations such as the Stabettes, a women\u2019s bike gang and West Town Bikes, a bike education and training center with programs specific to women and transgender people, work to break down existing barriers.<\/p>\n

Women Bike Chicago collaborated with the Chicago Bicycle Coalition to host the annual Winter Bike Swap at Jak\u2019s Tap in the West Loop this Saturday. The bike swap features several vendors, selling vintage bikes, old bike parts and bike equipment. Different bike organizations and non-profits shared their missions and information, promoting greater acceptance and openness. <\/p>\n

Lauren Phillips, a social worker in the city and long-time biker at the swap, shared her thoughts on what it\u2019s like to be a woman in the biking community in Chicago. <\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely think sexism happens in the bike industry and cycling communities,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cAnd it sort of marginalizes women and it marginalizes people who are gender nonconforming, people who don\u2019t fit the mold, whatever that is.\u201d <\/p>\n

Still, Emily Greenberg, another attendee at the bike swap said she feels women are very supported in the Chicago cycling community. She added that opportunities for women are abundant, citing BFF Bikes, a shop focused on women\u2019s bikes.
\nWhen asked if women have fewer opportunities in the bike community, Greenberg said, \u201c\u201cNo not at all. There are a number of companies and stores that are women focused. They have [women\u2019s] bike groups and cycling. I don\u2019t feel any discrimination against women whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phillips and Adamczyk disagree, pointing out several areas of potential growth for women in the cycling world. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens when I walk into a bike shop,\u201d Phillips said, \u201cand people assume that I don\u2019t know how to change a tire because of sex characteristics that they see. That makes my blood boil and that\u2019s not cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do is address specific concerns that men might not have to think about,\u201d Adamczyk said. \u201cThings like safety or comfort. We help remove the barriers that may have prevented [women] from taking the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n

West Town Bikes Media Outreach Coordinator Danni Limonez said she believes education in cycling must start with girls when they\u2019re young. If they don\u2019t know biking is an option, they may not discover that connection until later in life. <\/p>\n

\"danni\"
Danni Limonez, a member of the Stabettes and the media outreach coordinator at West Town Bikes promoted both organizations at the bike swap.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI think that women in the cycling community are definitely present,\u201d Limonez said. \u201cI think that even more women could be involved I believe that cycling is for everybody. It\u2019s just that women are still catching on to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Women Bike Chicago believes their mission is so important not only to increase women\u2019s involvement but to also provide a sense of empowerment. This begs the question: can biking be used as an empowering tool? <\/p>\n

\u201cFor me it\u2019s hugely empowering,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cI feel that when I\u2019m on my bike- that sense of independence and feeling of being capable. It\u2019s that feeling of being able to get from point A to point B on my own steam.\u201d<\/p>\n

[vimeo 156625704 w=474]<\/p>\n

Photo at top: Chicago Bicycle Coalition and Women Bike Chicago teamed up for the first time to host the annual Winter Bike Swap bringing together cyclists from all walks of life.(Elyse Samuels\/Medill)<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Elyse Samuels In 2012, four women bicyclists banded together out of frustration over the lack of women in the biking community in Chicago. Through their initiative and passion they created Women Bike Chicago, an organization that supports women in their biking endeavors. \u201cWe want female cyclists to feel like they have a voice,\u201d said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":251,"featured_media":32443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[585],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2016"],"yoast_head":"\nWomen take biking into their own hands - Medill Reports Chicago<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/women-take-biking-into-their-own-hands\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Women take biking into their own hands - Medill Reports Chicago\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Elyse Samuels In 2012, four women bicyclists banded together out of frustration over the lack of women in the biking community in Chicago. 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