Women's Cycling Movements Around the World

From Kabul to Nairobi to Bengaluru — women are using bicycles to claim space, build community, and rewrite the rules.

Active Movements

She Cycles (India) — Bengaluru-based movement with 20+ college clubs, rides, workshops, and a writing platform
Afghan Women's Cycling Team — Founded by Shannon Galpin; women cycling in defiance of Taliban restrictions. Subject of the documentary "Afghan Cycles"
Cycle Yatra (India) — Rural women's cycling collectives in Bihar and UP, linked to government bicycle distribution schemes
Japan Bicycle Girls — Community of women commuter-cyclists in Tokyo redefining urban mobility

Nairobi Pink Peloton (Kenya) — 600 women in pink jerseys riding every Sunday; forced the county to build three cycling lanes
Qhubeka (South Africa) — "Moving forward" in Zulu. Distributes bicycles to women and girls in rural areas; 500,000+ distributed
World Bicycle Relief — Supplies purpose-built Buffalo Bicycles to women health workers, students, and entrepreneurs across sub-Saharan Africa

London Cycling Campaign: Women's Programme — Targeted infrastructure advocacy; secured protected lanes on Embankment
WoMena Pedal Power (Colombia) — Women's cycling collective in Bogota advocating for gendered cycling data
Ovarian Psycos (Los Angeles) — Latina women's cycling brigade. Subject of a 2016 documentary.

"Afghan Cycles" (2018) — Documentary. Watch trailer
"Ovarian Psycos" (2016) — Documentary on the LA Latina cycling brigade
"Bike Nation" by Peter Walker — How cycling can save the world
"City Cycling" edited by John Pucher & Ralph Buehler — Academic reference on global cycling policy