By: Carsyn Cann
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark- Northwest Arkansas is becoming a hub for the biking community. As Fayetteville gains recognition for being a city with great trails, it also comes with the negative reputation of being in Arkansas.
In March, 2021, the Arkansas State Legislator passed a trio of laws that specifically targeted the LGBTQ+ community. The harshest of the bills, HB1570, denies transgender minors from accessing gender-affirming health care. This bill caused controversy across not only the state of Arkansas, but nationally.
Fayetteville is expected to host one of the most premiere cycling championships, the World Cyclocross Championship, in January, 2022. Fayetteville is of the only cities in the United States to have ever hosted this Championship.
The passing of the anti-trans legislation has caused some professional cyclists to question whether the race should be held in Arkansas. LGBTQ+ members of the cycling community have spoken out about how they feel unwelcome in Arkansas under these new laws.
A group of local cyclists decided to create a space where everyone was welcomed.
Located out of Bentonville, Arkansas, this group of riders thought that an inclusive space in the biking community was needed. “It’s really important, especially in this day and age, thinking about how we can create a safe space for new riders and people that want to get into the sport,” says co-founder Bea Apple.
The group calls its weekly ride the WFTNB ride, which stands for Women, Fem, Trans, and Non-binary. “I think with cycling it can be a masculine focused sport a lot of the times,” says co-founder Annie Davis. “So we just wanted to create a group that included WFTNB.”
The group aims to promote inclusivity and build community while participating in the sport they love. “We just love to get out on our bikes, it’s like great exercise, but its also really great for out mental health and building community,” says Apple. “It’s really great to ride with a group that is unapologetically inclusive of LGBTQ+ people.”
There has been no change to the anti-trans bills in Arkansas. Despite protest from some cyclists, the World Cyclocross Championship is still set to be located in Fayetteville.
The WFTNB group goes on a twenty-mile ride every Tuesday night at six p.m. Any woman or member of the LGBTQ+ community is welcomed to attend.
The University of Arkansas encourages people to ride this month through the Global Bike Challenge. Students can ride anytime, anywhere in the month of September and log their rides on lovetoride.net for a chance to win prizes.