Man Denied Entry Into Bike Shop Because… He’s A Man.

CANADA – A Canadian man was denied entry into a bicycle shop on account of his gender. The bike shop called “Bikeworks” only allows “Women, Trans and Gender Non-Binary” visitors on three Sundays a month in order to create a “safe space,” free from men.

“If you do not identify as woman, trans or non-binary, you can support this important initiative by … respecting the space and not entering during the Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program,” reads the website.

The man who declined to be named has filed a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission. “I have no problem with a program that is trying to get women, trans-gendered and non-binary people in there, but don’t segregate,” he said.

The website explaining the company’s policy reads as follows:

The purpose of our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program is to promote balance by creating a safe, welcoming space for learning, socializing and fixing bikes. Women, trans and non-binary persons are under-represented as cyclists and in the world of bike repair; studies show a 3:1 ratio of male to female cyclists, and the numbers are even more imbalanced in the world of bike repair.

Mechanical repair has traditionally been a male-dominated field. Bike repair shops are often staffed entirely by male mechanics, and genders may be treated differently, sometimes in subtle ways. Differences in treatment could include:

• assumptions that women need more help than men, to the detriment of both
• failure to explain the nature of technical problems to women (making the assumption that women won’t understand or are not interested)
• comments about a person’s appearance

Because everyone is welcome, and because some of the gender-based assumptions we carry are deeply ingrained, we may still see examples of behaviour from patrons and volunteers, including:

• double-checking the work of a female mechanic with a male mechanic
• asking to speak with a mechanic (making the assumption that a female volunteer must not be a mechanic)
• referring to female mechanics in a diminutive or condescending manner (e.g. the phrase “lovely lady”, while appropriate in some contexts, is usually belittling in the context of the bike shop)
• interrupting non-male mechanics while they are explaining technical matters
• making remarks about non-male volunteers’ or patrons’ appearance
• making sexual advances on patrons or volunteers
• taking tools out of the hands of non-male patrons

Q: Isn’t separating a group of people based on race, gender, class, etc. called segregation, which is a bad thing?

A: BikeWorks does not exist in a social vacuum. On any given day, the shop is often dominated by males, and volunteers and patrons of all genders carry with them social norms beyond our control. These norms often include expectations that males tend to be stronger cyclists or mechanics. Our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program provides a safe space which explicitly moves away from those expectations.

The existence of these societal norms means that traditionally male-dominated spaces such as bike shops tend to segregate, to the benefit of men, without any conscious intent. Our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program is a conscious recognition of this, and an organized effort at countering the problems it creates, with the goal of shifting BikeWorks so that no gender dominates on any day.

Q: What if someone is trans and male bodied, or male bodied but otherwise identifies as female, or identifies as female only some of the time, or is female-bodied but identifies as male, or doesn’t identify as either male or female, etc etc etc?

A: If you genuinely relate to the experience of being woman trans or non-binary on a daily basis, you are welcome to participate in our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program. And no, you cannot participate if you are man wearing a wig/dress, and we are tired of that joke. We won’t even fake a laugh.

Q: I am a man. Can I just come in and fill up my tires really fast?

A: We do not make exceptions, even for staff or Board members, as then the program would be de facto no longer be a program for women, trans & non binary folks. We cannot sell bikes, allow entry for quick repairs, or process rentals (including returns) unless you are woman, trans or non-binary.

Our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program is currently only offered at BikeWorks South. If you need to access to a community bike shop on a Sunday, BikeWorks North is open to everyone every Sunday.

Q: I am a man. Can I send my girlfriend/wife to pick up parts for me?

A: If you identify as female, trans or non-binary, you are welcome to come work on your partner’s bike at our shop as a participant in our Women, Trans & Gender Non-Binary program. Our volunteer mechanics will happily assist you as much or as little as you need, whether you have never touched a wrench before or you’re a professional mechanic in your day job.

However, if you are a man who is sending a woman in on your behalf with a shopping list while you lurk just outside the door, you are being extremely disrespectful to both the woman who is helping you and to the goals and volunteers of our program. Our aim is to empower and educate women, trans and non-binary folk, and by standing outside yelling instructions you are disempowering and belittling the people working inside and reinforcing toxic gender stereotypes.

Q: I am a woman shopping for a bike. Can I bring a male friend with me to the Women, Trans & Gender-Non-Binary program to help me choose a bike?

A: No.

Our volunteers are extremely knowledgeable, experienced and honest, and can help you decide on a bike that is right for you and your needs as well as help you make any needed repairs to it. We work hard to dispel the common feeling many women have that they must bring a man with them to the bike shop to get fair treatment or to speak for them, or that they need a man’s opinion to make a decision on their own bicycle.

Damn. Why would you want to shop there anyway? Don’t give your money to people like this.