Improving Women’s Rights in Afghanistan with Bikes – Join the Global Solidarity Ride 8/30
“The bicycle has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.”
— Susan B. Anthony in 1986
In Afghanistan it’s not technically illegal to ride a bicycle, but a woman riding a bicycle is a deep-seeded taboo and is seen as controversial, provocative, and immoral. In this video, Shannon Galpin, a
National Geographic Adventurer of the Year
and founder of Mountain2Mountain (
), says that girls on bicycles have been “sling-shotted, rocks are thrown at them, they’re insulted, they’re families are insulted.”
It’s all too easy for us in the U.S. to take for granted the simple freedom that comes from riding a bike—and many of us can’t imagine having to face that kind of risk every time we go out for a ride. But it’s exactly that risk that brought Shannon to Afghanistan. She wanted to find a way to empower women and girls in conflict zones, and her vehicle of change is the bicycle.
“Bikes can literally change lives. These girls have inspired me to step outside of my own boundaries, to remember that pedaling a bike is a freedom, and that that feeling of freedom that we get when we all ride bikes is at the core of creating change, is at the core of women’s rights,” Shannon said.
In 2009, Shannon became the first woman to ride a mountain bike in Afghanistan. Then in 2010 she rode her bike across the Panjshir Valley as a way to engage cycling communities in support of M2M’s projects in Afghanistan that benefited women and girls. And since then Afghan women and girls have been quietly pedaling a revolution.
Inspired by this momentum, Shannon launched Strength in Numbers, a program steeped in the “belief that one woman can make a difference but an army of women could change the world.”
And on August 30, women and men around the world will ride as one, united in the freedom of riding a bike. The Global Solidarity Ride is a powerful way to unite communities around the world on two wheels and show Afghan women that they are not alone—the world sees what they are doing and supports them.
“After five years of mountain biking in Afghanistan, its amazing to see Afghan girls starting to ride for the first time in their country’s history. Even more amazing is seeing how the global cycling community is coming together to ride bikes in solidarity with these young women that dare to ride,” Shannon said. “The bike was an integral part of the the American, English, and French women’s rights movement and these young Afghan women are pedaling a revolution of their own, our job is simply to support and encourage them!”
Find a ride in your neck of the woods, create your own, or just grab your bike and a friend and hit the trail or the road to show your support of these brave women.
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
Environment
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security
History & Culture
- Heard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followersHeard of Zoroastrianism? The religion still has fervent followers
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
Science
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
- Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?Can aspirin help protect against colorectal cancers?
- The unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and MounjaroThe unexpected health benefits of Ozempic and Mounjaro
- Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.Do you have an inner monologue? Here’s what it reveals about you.
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
Travel
- This chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new directionThis chef is taking Indian cuisine in a bold new direction
- On the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migrationOn the path of Latin America's greatest wildlife migration
- Everything you need to know about Everglades National ParkEverything you need to know about Everglades National Park
- Spend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the worldSpend a night at the museum at these 7 spots around the world