Free bike repair event helps women and nonbinary cyclists

How it works: Twice a month, the Street Collective holds the free repair events, which are run by Kristi Ehlers from Bike World in Urbandale and Becca Corbitt, who works at the Collective.

• People can drop in without signing up, whether they need help fixing a neglected bike or want to learn how to change a flat.
• Volunteers work with all types of bikes, from beaters to high-end road models.

Reality check: Women face barriers to biking, especially as they enter their teen and adult years.

• A 2024 report from Strava shows that men generally ride farther and for longer than women because women feel less safe taking bike rides and are less likely to go out in the dark.
• A study from People for Bikes shows that girls from certain religious or cultural backgrounds may also be less likely to bike, especially if they aren't allowed to wear pants.
• And while the majority of women say they feel more comfortable riding in a group of the same gender, only 12% end up doing it, per the Strava report.

What they're saying: "The more people know, the better," Corbitt says. "It's empowering, and it can be really intimidating to go into an all-male shop and ask questions."

The intrigue: One of Corbitt's favorite memories is when a woman brought in an old bike from her late father, unsure whether it could even be saved.

• "We did everything we could to make it enjoyable and rideable for her," Corbitt says. "She came back later and said how glad she was that she stuck with it."

What's next: The next repair event is scheduled for 6-8pm on July 9 at the Street Collective in the East Village.