Frequently asked questions

  • A small collective of messengers, looking to represent the current working messengers of NYC. If you feel like you are not being represented, please volunteer and help us make this an association that works for everyone.  

  • A BMA (Bike Messenger Association) is set up to be a collective voice for working couriers, supporting worker advocacy, community networking and industry events. The NYCBMA strives to become a resource messengers from all industries can use. Whether it's seeking financial aid, searching for work, recovering stolen property or even finding someone to do your taxes. We want to work for you, and help you find the answers you’re looking for. 

  • We have no hub beyond where we rest and charge. We do however coordinate to meet at various locations when needed, mostly in public. We announce regularly when and where we have open meetings.

  • NYCBMA is the result of what happens when there’s no BMA to place a bid for CMWC or NACCC; (ie late 2022/early 2023). There was once a BMA known as the “NYBMA” in the 2000s, but ceased operations by 2017 after NACCC 2016 in NYC.

  • we’re always happy to have content submitted to us from BMA events, promoting our partners and sponsors. Photos, video recordings and edits, etc. We’ll accept fan art and graphics to be included on BMA printed messenger calendars, or flyers for promoting upcoming events, stickers or even patches. We can always use help! Checkpoint workers to validate racers, someone to flip burgers at the grill, or if you simply enjoy documenting, come thru and introduce yourself. We work together to make fun happen.

  • To create a pro-positive, pro-thinking, pro-alertness, anti-obsession, anti-stupidity network that supports an promotes one another, influenced by culture, driven by cycling, fueled by passion and desire for wanderlust. To abolish gatekeeping and dated barriers, and preserve honorable messengers legacy. We serve to and for humanitarian advocacy, mutual-aid, and solidarity.

  • No. this is all volunteer, unpaid, and unconditional work. you’re welcome to join our collective. come to one of our events, and introduce yourself.

  • We strive to be a 501c(3) non-profit. We accept charitable donations that go to either our emergency funds for injured messengers, or our community events that get redistributed. The best way to help fund the NYCBMA; come out to an event, pay registration, COMPETE AND HAVE FUN.

    @nycbmafunds on paypal

    $andofumando on cashapp

    @andocobrando on venmo

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

  • Contrary to belief, we invite anyone to participate in our events, but to compete, we ask for non-electric (ie human-powered) bicycles. No one is expected to be an active or former bike messenger, or courier in any field.

  • We have two categories at our events: ‘open’ and ‘femme’. If one identifies as anything besides fundamentally “femme”, falls into the “open” category”. If one identifies as “femme”, IE neither ‘masculine’ nor ‘non-binary’, falls into the “femme” category. Thus, “transwomen are women”, etc.

    Traditionally, creating categories split along binary lines (e.g. men and women) excludes folks who don’t identify along those binary lines. We’ve seen an increase in the inclusion of trans, non-binary and femme folks in the women’s category, which is better, but can place transmen in the position where they feel they need to out themselves to participate, or makes it seem as though only visibly femme people are allowed within this category. Creating a non-cis or trans specific category also puts trans folks in the position of needing to out themselves in order to register in a category which best represents them.

    Creating an “open” rather than a “men’s” category allows folks (including women if they feel like it!) to compete in whichever category they feel most comfortable in, and allows all folks who aren’t cis men to have their own category.

    Gender categories should not be policed or questioned policed. People’s gender identities are extremely personal and it isn’t one’s place as an organizer to assume anything or so force someone to prove it. In the event that one truly feels like someone has chosen the wrong category by mistake or simply to provoke, one can reach out to them. This should be handled delicately.

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    The majority of graphics and photos featured on this website are by G. Coco, unless otherwise specified. This website was co-developed by D. Lee and G. Coco 2026.