fwbr
GLOBAL IMPACT REPORT
FWBR
The Fancy Women Bike Ride proudly held its 11th annual event in 2023, demonstrating the powerful impact women can create when they come together. First launched in 2013 in Izmir through the individual efforts of Sema Gür, the event has grown into a global phenomenon, spreading to over 30 countries and more than 250 cities under the coordination of Pinar Pinzuti.
1- Awareness for the European Mobility Week
European Mobility Week is an annual initiative of the European Commission. It calls on cities and towns to devote one week to sustainable mobility. From day one, FWBR became the promoter of European Mobility Week, which most municipalities and institutions had never heard of, but is now celebrated with dozens of local events in many cities across Europe.
2- Celebration of the World Car Free Day
World Car Free Day is celebrated on September 22. It is an opportunity for cities to highlight how congested roads can be used in different ways. Fancy Women Bike Ride’s first event in 2013 was on world car free day. Demanding the celebration of the day by closing the city centre to motorised vehicles was a part of the manifesto. In some cities, mayors decided to close some of the roads to cars, giving space to the community activities, at least for a day; London, Brussels and Paris are examples.
3- Advocacy for Safe Cycling Infrastructure
Fancy Women Bike Ride has been a vocal advocate for safe cycling infrastructure, urging governments and municipalities worldwide to invest in women and bike-friendly paths, lanes, and facilities.
4- Many women learned how to ride a bike
One of the greatest impacts of the Fancy Women Bike Ride was the creation of regular free cycling courses for women in the cities. The volunteers of the movement taught thousands of other women how to ride a bike, women who were motivated to cycle in order to participate in the annual ride.
5- Empowering Women
Through the simple act of riding a bike, the Fancy Women Bike Ride has empowered women to challenge stereotypes and break down societal barriers. The movement encourages women to embrace their strength and independence.
The slogan “Be Women Be Visible” was immediately embraced all over the world. Most of the time, it’s only the visible things that get the attention of the media and are considered when decisions are taken that impact our daily lives. Fancy Women Bike Ride helped to make bicycles visible on our roads (and be considered in urban planning and traffic management), and helped women to be visible as they are, without getting dressed as a road construction builder.
“Kadın Sokağa Çıkarsa Dünya Değişir” sloganı tüm dünyada yankı buldu. Çoğu zaman sadece görünür olan şeyler medyanın dikkatini çeker ve hayatımız için kararlar alınırken bunlar göz önüne alınır. Süslü Kadınlar Bisiklet Turu, bisikletleri yollarımızda görünür kılmaya (ve şehir planlamasında ve trafik yönetiminde düşünülmeye) yardımcı oldu. Kadınların, kısa mesafede bile profesyonel bisiklet sporcusu gibi görünmek zorunda olmadığı fikrini benimsemelerine katkısı oldu. Onların bisikletleriyle beraber oldukları gibi görünmelerine yardımcı oldu.
6- Normalised cycling
Back in 2013, the male dominated cycling community was also dictating the rules of cycling. Such rules made cycling inaccessible for many potential urban cyclists. Fancy Women Bike Ride, with the annual event aimed to normalise cycling, proved that anyone with any kind of clothes, shoes, or hats could cycle, wherever they wanted, with the pace they preferred.
7- Community Building
8- Solidarity among women
The Fancy Women Bike Ride has brought together women from diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity. As a movement, FWBR has created lasting connections and friendships among the organisers of the local events all around the world. 60% of the local bike rides were organised by Turkish women, and immigrants/expats with a Turkish background.organizatörleri arasında kalıcı bağlantılar ve dostluklar yarattı. Türkiye ve yurtdışındaki 200’den fazla şehirde gerçekleşen bisiklet turlarının %60’ı Türk kadınları ve Türkiye kökenli göçmenler tarafından düzenlendi.