Awaremess

Wanna join the awaremess team?

Milan's messenger community is very white, dominated by cis men, and heterosexual. For a long time it had a macho and competitive atmosphere, which left little room for WTNB* members.

The deeply rooted drinking culture often reinforced these mechanisms of exclusion, making it difficult for those who didn't identify with that social model to participate.

In recent years, however, thanks also to contact with other messenger communities abroad, the entry of a few more WTNB* members into the community, and the arrival of a new generation of bike messengers, a growing awareness of inclusivity has developed. This has led to a tangible change: there have been notable improvements in people's attitudes and a concrete commitment to making the environment more welcoming for everyone.

We are looking forward to welcome you in the streets of Milan for the World Championships 2026.

Since the concept of Awareness entered the messenger world, most of the work has been done by WTNB* and/or queer people. This work is both practical and physical (e.g., the number of Awaremess volunteers at parties) and inventive (formulating concepts, explaining them, finding a way to make them easily accessible to everyone). Consequently, the burden of informing people, teaching them how to respect others, and suggesting habits and ideas to make everyone feel comfortable has fallen (as almost always happens) on the shoulders of people who are often already marginalized and subject to discrimination.

Be aware of your privileges and make an extra effort to educate yourself and question the way you occupy space.

Useful resources

• StarBMA, the website with all the guidelines regarding Open/WTNB* categories and why it's important to have them
• Zine distributed at SUICMC 2023 regarding the change of race categories that had been decided on transphobic bases

Some guidelines

• Moderation is an individual and common responsibility, let's try to correct each other and self-moderate with care and patience in the possible different situations.
• Ask and respect pronouns. Don't assume them.
• Avoid assumptions about other people's experiences. Especially regarding gender, race, sexuality, or (physical and mental) health.
• Don't insult people.
• Don't use threatening tones.
• Keep in mind inequalities, privileges and power asymmetries.
• Don't dominate the conversation. Be aware of the space that you occupy (physically and verbally). Don't talk over other people in a discussion. Give to everyone the time and space to express themselves.
• Ask for consent.
• No racism, omolesbobitransphobia, transmisoginy, sexism, abilism, fatphobia, ageism, and classism.

Some helpful questions to reflect on

• How do I react when someone with less privilege expresses criticism or discomfort about something I’ve said or done?
• How often do I interrupt or speak over marginalized people during interactions?
• Do I actively educate myself on how to listen better to people with less privilege, or do I expect them to do that work for me?
• If I hear a friend misgendering someone, consciously or unconsciously, am I able to correct them, even if it seems awkward to interrupt the conversation?
• Am I more comfortable following advice or trusting people similar to me?
• Do I pay more social attention (eye contact, affirmation, deference) to certain people based on their appearance or perceived status?
• Do I regularly ask if all members of a group feel included, or do I prioritize people who are more like me?
• Am I able to recognize when something is wrong (e.g., if someone is interrupted more often or if someone talks too much) and intervene gently in the moment?
• Do I include quieter or less “typical” voices in discussions, or do I engage mostly with people I already know or who seem similar to me?
• If someone shares a personal story of discrimination, do I focus on their experience, or do I change the subject, minimize, or make it about me?
• If someone is new or alone, do I make an effort to interact and introduce them to others to help them feel included?
• Am I aware of how internal jokes or group dynamics might exclude new or marginalized people?

General Info

Food

Our kitchen team will take care of you throughout the entire event, providing vegan breakfasts included in the registration fee. Lunch and dinner will not be provided, but don’t worry! Over the weekend, breakfast will turn into an extended brunch, allowing you to enjoy a more relaxed and filling start to the day. In addition, the locations map features a list of recommended spots where you can eat well at great prices.

Accomodation

Housing and separate WTNB Housing close to the events location will be provided for the whole duration of the event. Remember to register to let us know how to organize the space at best!

What to bring

• Tent
• Sleeping gear
• Plate, cup, cutlery
• Light (bike light and headlamp)
• Towel
• Mosquito Spray
• Mosquito net
• Helmet
• Pen
• Lock
• Rain Gear
• Tarp

Locations Map

Check out all the official event locations and discover some local tips for good food and nice spots around town.

Open in Google Maps

Riding to HQ from the airports

For those flying in that feel like riding into the city here you find two suggested routes (one for each major airport). Both routes run mostly on separate bike lanes along river banks and are suitable for all bikes. If you're flying in Linate, you can directly ride in the city or take the M4 metro line.

BGY to HQ (GPX File)

MXP to HQ (GPX File)

Housing Info

The CMWC housing will be located within Parco Porto di Mare, in southeast Milan, right next to Cascina Carpana.

The camping area will be available from the afternoon of Wednesday, May 27, until the morning of Monday, June 1. The space hosting us is immersed in greenery and designed as a shared, self-managed area: showers will be self-built, and sinks, chemical toilets, and a bike rack will be available.

A dedicated space for charging electronic devices will also be available. However, please note that no one will be present to supervise or guard devices left charging. We therefore recommend bringing a power bank based on your needs.

Access to the campsite will be free during the day, with no closing hours. At night, the gate will be locked, but a dedicated person will always be on hand to open it for those returning from group rides from the parties. For those returning independently, a phone number will be available to call for access to the area.

This space belongs to Italia Nostra, an association dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the environmental, historical, and landscape in the Milan area.

For this reason, we ask you to take care of the space where you are staying and everything that makes it special: the nature, biodiversity, plants, and animals present within the park. Every small act of respect helps preserve this place for everyone.

NB: Tent spaces are limited, so organize to sleep with your companions! We aim to avoid single tents! No spaces are available for hanging hammocks!

Van/Car/House

Since parking cars inside the park is not possible, free parking spaces will be available outside the area, from which you can then reach the campsite on foot or bike. Vans will also not be allowed to park inside the campsite. We therefore recommend using the Area Sosta Milano Navigli at Alzaia Naviglio Grande 204.

Another option is the Park4Night app, which lists some free parking areas; however, in this case, we cannot guarantee the safety of your van or personal belongings.

For those who prefer to sleep at home, book a room, or an apartment, we have an agreement with Ospitami - Volunteer Association for Solidarity Hosting for a dedicated priority channel for CMWC 2026 participants.

When sending your request via email, please indicate:

• That you are a CMWC 2026 participant;
• Number of people (adults and specify for kids);
• Check-in date;
• Check-out date;
• If you have any pets or not;
• If you need any special requirements, such as bike storage/spaces in the building or similar.

This way, Ospitami can check host availability and put you directly in touch with them. CMWC participants will also be entitled to a 15% discount on bookings.

CMWC 2026 Camping Regulations

Arrival and Stay

• Access to the camping area is restricted exclusively to event registrants who have requested housing.
• You may only occupy a space after checking in at the registration point.
• No external guests or unregistered persons are allowed.

Respect for Quiet Hours

• From 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, we ask that you maintain silence.
• During quiet hours, out of respect for other messengers, animals, and local wildlife, please turn off music and limit noise.
• Respect the rest and the nature surrounding us.

Pitches and Common Areas

• Keep your area clean and tidy.
• Do not damage trees, plants, or camping structures.
• Use the bins and sort your waste properly.
• Avoid leaving trash or food in the park to not disturb the animals present.
• If you notice dirt or litter around you, we invite you to pick it up and help keep the area clean for everyone.

Access to the Camping Area

• Access from the Cascina is not permitted, as it is a restricted area not open to the public.
• Motorised vehicles are not allowed within the park.
• Vans or cars are not permitted inside the park.
• Bicycles must be left and parked in the designated bike parking area.
• During nighttime hours, the main access gate remains closed; in case of need, or if you need to enter the camping site contact the number that will be given.

Fire Safety

• No fire and no barbecue allowed.
• Please review the fire safety map posted in the camping area.
• In case of emergency or fire, follow the instructions provided and proceed to the assembly point indicated on the map.

Bathrooms and Showers

• Use the bathrooms and showers with care and respect for other messengers.
• The facilities are divided into Open and WTNB areas, clearly marked with signs and separate spaces: please use the ones designated for you correctly.
• It is mandatory to use the soap provided by the organizers. If it runs out or is missing, please notify staff immediately.
• Always keep the spaces clean after use, out of respect for everyone.

Personal Belongings

• Please do not leave valuables unattended in the camping area.
• The organizers assume no responsibility for thefts, losses, or damage to personal items.
• If you find a lost item that doesn't belong to you, please hand it over to one of the organizers.

Animals

• Animals are welcome but must be kept on a leash.
• Owners must always pick up after their pets.
• Prevent them from disturbing park's wildlife.

Respect and Common Sense

• It is mandatory to respect the awareness rules subscribed to during event registration and posted on the housing sign.
• The organizers reserve the right to intervene in case of inappropriate, disrespectful behavior, or actions contrary to the event's principles.

Have a great stay and a great championship.

Pre & Post Events

Thinking about extending your mess-vacation before or after the World Championships? We’ve got you covered — here’s all the information you need.

Pre-ECMC

From 8th to 10th may Warsaw will host the very first event of the season. There will also be a groupride to Berlin between 11th and the 14th.

More info here

ECMC

The 30th edition of the European Cycle Messenger Championships will take place in Berlin, Germany, from the 14th to the 18th of may.

More info here

SUICMC

This year the Swiss Championships will do things a bit differently: instead of taking place in a single city, they’ll be a 10-day traveling journey across several cities in Switzerland, with events happening all along the way. Acting as a bridge between European and World Championships, the groupride will reach Milan on May 27th.

More info here

Post-CMWC

On Monday, June 1st, a group ride will roll out from Milan and head to the sea in Genoa over three days. Once there, the local community will host the official post-event until Friday, June 5th.

More info here

Spiritual Bombing

On the weekend of June 6th–7th, the 4th edition of Spiritual Bombing will go down in the mountains above Genoa. It’s a fixed-gear-only mountain race, with a party and campout up in the hills. Not racing? No worries, there’ll also be a group ride and a hike.

More info here