Women come together on March 8th to remember that cities are theirs too

Women from different associations and collectives linked to bicycle mobility and sustainability are trying to reaffirm their place in the city and are promoting three walks in three different cities on March 8, another International Women's Day. In Lisbon, the meeting point will be at Alameda da Cidade Universitária, next to the Faculty of Law's GIRA station, at 18:30.

"Enjoying the city and urban life should be universal and accessible to all people, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or any other characteristic. On March 8 - a day to celebrate the achievement of rights, but above all to reflect deeply on full equality in all social dimensions - we demand that society in general, and political decision-makers in particular, promote measures to encourage the use of bicycles by women, as a tool for inclusion and the promotion of their freedom.", reads a short manifesto shared by the organization of the meetings on social media.

The meetings are being organized by the associations MUBi, Cicloda, Braga Ciclável, Ciclaveiro, ZERO, Climáximo and Women in Architecturethe Bicicultura cooperative, the FEMINA movement, the organizers of the Fancy Women Bike Ride in Lisbon and in Porto, by the groups Pedaling Faro, for the project Wheel of the Winds. In Porto, the meeting point will be Parque do Covelo (18h00) and in Aveiro, Casa da Bicicleta (18h30).

According to the organization, anyone - even if they're not a woman - is invited to join these bike rides, which will serve to make eight demands for a more inclusive urban environment and mobility (you can read them below). "We support the marches organized by feminist collectives across the country, and we contribute to the fight for equal rights with our demands"they say.

In Lisbon, the women who will meet at the GIRA station at the Faculty of Law, in Cidade Universitária, will join the great International Women's Day March which will set off at 6pm from Luís de Camões Square in Chiado.

March 8th | 8 Claims

1. We want to increase our participation in the urban construction processin particular with regard to urban planning and mobility, from planning to decision-making and implementation.
2. We demand bicycle safetyI'm not sure if this is a good idea, alone or with a family, transporting or accompanying children, without being exposed to violence that is felt in most urban centers.
3. We want stop feeling that our daily journeys are conditioned by fear and experience urban life in our cities without being the target of any kind of harassment, physical or verbal violence.
4. We claim a comfortable, safe and well-lit cycling infrastructure that facilitates our daily lives and connects the various urban functions that are essential to us: home, work, commerce, health, education and leisureincluding secure parking at these locations.
5. We complain public bicycle systems shared and long-term rentals, which also allow children or people with reduced mobility to be transportedso that families can experience and use this sustainable mode of mobility.
6. We want a safe city, one that allows our people to children can go to school autonomously, on foot or by bicycle, and protected areas so that they can play without the need for constant supervision.
7. We advocate the promotion of learning to ride a bicycle as an adultThe goal is to empower more women to use the bicycle regularly and independently, but also to make it part of the school curriculum.
8. We need to create campaigns promoting gender equality and non-discriminationThis is a national and local program, orienting the discourse to be more inclusive and fighting prejudices and stereotypes regarding the use of the bicycle.