Welcome!

In June of 1976 a small group of women, tired of riding their motorcycles in the shadow
of the largely male dominated San Francisco Gay Freedom Day March, moved to the
front of the rally for the queer liberation. One of these women coined the phrase “Dykes
on Bikes®”, which was quickly adopted by the local San Francisco newspaper and
media. The Dykes on Bikes visual and audible presence at the beginning of the March
kicked off a tradition of strong, loud, and rebellious Dykes leading Pride Parades around
the globe for the past nearly five decades. San Francisco is the mother chapter for the
Dykes on Bikes® community with more than 15 other chapters world wide. In 2003, the
organizers voted to recognize our long history by changing the name to the San
Francisco Dykes on Bikes® Women’s Motorcycle Contingent (SFDOBWMC). Today we
register and organize and safely lead several hundred motorcycles consisting of Dykes
on Bikes and their allies in the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Pride Parade held annually in
June.

San Francisco Dykes on Bikes has fought hard for and reclaimed the name Dykes on
Bikes®, litigating the United States Patent Trademark Office over the course of 14
years, on a journey that included two trips to the United States Supreme Court. We are
a 501c3 non-profit committed to creating a local, national and international community
of women motorcyclists, to supporting philanthropic endeavors in the LGBTQ+ and
women’s communities and to empowering a community of diverse women through
rides, charity events, pride events and education.

Interested in learning more about us? Come to a meeting or join us on a ride. We
welcome new people and our meetings are open to anyone interested.