Grease Rag is for FTW (Femme/Trans/Women, Non-binary, Two-spirit) on bikes to connect in a collaborative and fun learning environment through rides, discussions, shop nights and educational seminars in a safer space.
Riding bikes together is a big part of what we do. Creating a safer and supportive environment with clear expectations is the most important thing. Leaders are not responsible for people’s safety, leaders are responsible for setting expectations and coordinating people to work together. We purposefully do not host any fast rides. There are other clubs and teams in town that do the speed thing! We are all about that slow roll as a way of attracting new riders and people new to group rides.
Expectations
Clearly communicating expectations reduces anxieties and allows riders who are new to group rides or new to Grease Rag an easier time joining in. Make a flyer, text some pals, or post on social media to get the word out! Here are some things to consider: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY?
WHO
Who is leading the ride? How do I contact a ride leader with questions? Who is Grease Rag?
WHAT
What is the speed, distance, and riding conditions? E.g. “Muppet pace, 3 miles, mostly on trails with some on-street bike lanes and a few moderate hills.” What amenities are on the ride/destination? E.g. Bike racks, single stall/all-gender bathrooms, water fountain? Will there be snacks?
WHERE
Where is the meet up point? Stops? Destination? Is the ride returning to the start? (You may want to be vague about the exact locations of stops and destination for group safety.)
WHEN
When is the meet up, when is roll out, when can we expect to be done?
WHY
Is there a theme? Why is this a safer space ride?
Welcome!
If you’re doing a ride that’s meant to attract new riders, we make sure to welcome them when they arrive. Introduce them to someone on the ride. This goes a long way.
Organizer to do list
- Welcome people as they arrive and introduce newbies to others on the ride. If we are organizing rides meant to attract new riders, this goes a long way.
- Find out which volunteers can do crisis management/de-escalation
- Trade phone numbers with ride volunteers
- Take stock of first aid and tools
- Organize volunteers to control intersections
- Check in with people about pace
- Remind people to hydrate
- Who’s bringing the snacks??
- Play some music- red lights are for dance parties!
- Thank volunteers and riders for doing a great job, and for showing up for Grease Rag <3
Group intro to safer spaces
Here’s a sample script for kicking off an FTW group ride! We do introductions and some community building before we hop on our bikes.
WELCOME!
There’s a pump to air up your tires, bathrooms, and water.
I am Low, I use they/them pronouns. I am leading this Grease Rag group ride. Grease Rag is a group of people on bikes who do NOT include cis men who benefit from cis male privilege. We center FTW, which means femme, trans, women, two-spirit, non-binary folks. We do not assume whether or not you are FTW. (For “accomplices welcome” all-gender rides:) If you benefit from cis male privilege, please do not go ahead of the leader, do not talk over or give unwanted advice to FTW, objectify or shame or sexualize bodies, and do not showboat or jump curbs or anything while on this ride. If you have questions about what any of that means, please talk to a volunteer.
Please turn to the person next to you and share your name, pronoun if you feel comfortable sharing (examples are they/them, she/her, he/him, and there are others, too. Pronouns are important so that we can refer to people how we like to be referred to, and helps us not make assumptions about gender), and share, “What is your super power?”
“If you are a volunteer willing to listen if people have issues during the ride, please raise your hand!”
Look around and notice all of the folks who are willing to listen if you have an issue, big or small. Safety of FTW is the most important thing. A safer space doesn’t mean we are all safe here. It means that we are going to help hold each other accountable so we do less harm.
“If you are going to be helping us get through intersections, please raise your hand!”
Riding as a group is a skill!
- Everyone is responsible for their own safety. Your bike and your body.
- ABCQ safety checks! Air, brakes, chain, quick release
- Make sure people have lights, whatever is needed for the ride
- Space out from the person in front of you, a couple of bike lengths in case someone needs to stop suddenly
- Hand signals, and verbal cues- right, left, slowing/stopping, pointing out potholes. You can call “bike back” if someone is passing us or “bike up” if we are passing someone.
- Riding two abreast at maximum, sometimes single file
- You can call an intersection CLEAR but everyone is responsible for their own safety
- Someone is the caboose/sweeper, explain that they will make sure we are all together
- Someone is the leader, explain that people are free to ride ahead but they should know the route
- Talk about how you’ll work together at intersections. 1. We will continue through the light and stop where it is safe and wait for you. 2. We are going to act like a school of fish, and all cross together in a group, with volunteers blocking traffic and waiving us through.
- No one will be left behind! If people are slow going up hills, just know we will meet you at the bottom of the next hill at a place that is safe. Don’t panic!
When we roll out in 5 minutes, we will go that way, down that street, and then follow this route to the destination.
Does anyone have any questions?
We take a group photo, and then we roll out!
This was also published in Cyclista Zine, 2020.