Our hope is that someday racism, homophobia, sexism and all other oppressions will be demolished but until then it’s the reality that racism, homophobia, sexism and many other oppressions exist and affect everyone on a daily basis. Given that reality, the PPS aims to given women and trannies, both of whom experience the negative effects of male privilege, the space to just ride bikes.

A sentiment that is often reiterated by men in response to the PPS is, “If I start a bike club and hang a big sign on the metaphorical door that says ‘boyz only, girls keep out’ that would be wrong, right?” The answer depends on the intention of the club. If the club was founded by men wanting to address male privilege then that’s one thing, yet the fact of the matter is that these days men don’t have to hang a sign on their club’s metaphorical door. The dominant underground bike culture is a definitive boy’s club – the message of that sign is enforced without it being there, resulting in the systematic exclusion of women, or any other group that would fall within an “other” category.

Likewise, some men have stated that they feel like our exclusion of men in the Pedal Pusher Society is “reverse-sexism.” By its definition sexism, racism and hetero-centrism are the combination of prejudice plus power meaning that sexism is the combination of social stigmas about women (prejudices) and male privilege and the power that is inherent in that privilege. Thus, those without male privilege cannot be sexist.

Undoubtedly, each Pedal Pushers has many wonderful male friends whom she bikes with on a regular basis and thinks is swell, yet the PPS is comprised of women and trannies because sometimes it’s just nice to have the space to process and have fun with people who share the same identity as you.