Warning: biker talk

Posted by ESC (USA) on July 09, 2004

In my biking days, we called a king and queen seater. The "queen" rode on back. Now it's "riding b*tch" and the "b*tch seat."

Posted on Thu, Jul. 08, 2004
Women bikers group defends sign at parade
VICE MAYOR SAYS IT WAS OFFENSIVE
By Michelle Ku
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
(Lexington, Ky.)

During the Fourth of July parade, B*tches on Bikes, a women's motorcycle group, roared down Main Street to the cheers of the crowd.

But before the start of Saturday's parade, the bikers drew the attention of Vice Mayor Mike Scanlon, who wanted them to take down a sign because he considered the word "b*tch" offensive.

"My concern was that the b-word was going down Main Street on a family holiday when we all know there are women in abuse shelters working their hardest to get that stereotype eliminated," Scanlon said.

The sign came down, but it didn't stay down. It reappeared on the front of a car as B*tches on Bikes turned onto Main from the Midland Avenue staging area.

The banner was taken down while the female bikers decided what to do and the group of about eight voted unanimously to put it back up, said Shannon Salisbury, founder of the biking group. "The theme of the parade was 'Let Freedom Ring,' and we were censored."

For B*tches on Bikes, the word "b*tch" isn't hateful or offensive, it's an empowering term, Salisbury said.

"B*tch" is used to play off of a well-known term in the biking community, said Chester Salisbury, Shannon's husband. "A guy or girl riding behind is called 'riding b*tch.' We're taking someone from the back and bringing them to the front."

Until Salisbury formed B*tches on Bikes, female motorcyclists in Lexington often rode alone because the local men's groups would only allow a woman to participate if she "rides b*tch," Shannon Salisbury said.

Although the women of the group have claimed and embraced "b*tch" for their own, that doesn't mean it's OK, Scanlon said. "It just doesn't feel good to see a hate word going down the middle of Main Street on the Fourth of July."

• Why do they like it? Ward 09/July/04
  • Why do they like it? ESC 09/July/04
    • Stop bitchin' ! Lewis 09/July/04
      • Stop bitchin' ! ESC 09/July/04
        • Stop bitchin' ! Word Camel 09/July/04
          • Too precious Lotg (OZ) 10/July/04