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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Riding free: Women reclaim Fort Kochi streets at night
Kochi: As rain swept through the narrow lanes of Fort Kochi on Saturday night, 30 women cycled through the drizzle, their spirits undampened by the drizzle. The Freedom Night Ride, organized by SheCycling, was more than just a ride — it was a statement of visibility and freedom in public spaces, especially after dark. The participants, aged between 15 and 70, gathered at the iconic St Francis Church before pedalling through the city's historic bylanes and colonial charm. For many, it was not just a ride, but a personal journey toward confidence and independence. Among them was 58-year-old Tanuja Aziz, who recently learned to cycle. Drenched but beaming, she shared how cycling transformed her life. "I never imagined going alone to the market or shops. Now I do it regularly," she said. "Learning with this group gave me freedom as a housewife." Her friend, Lyla Nizar, echoed the sentiment. "We were strangers united by fear — of falling, of failing, of being judged. That fear turned into laughter and friendship," she said, proudly posing beside her cycle. The movement is led by Zeenath Muhammed Ali, a cycling coach and the driving force behind SheCycling in Ernakulam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo A product of the Kochi Corporation's bicycle training programme in 2022, Zeenath has since trained hundreds of women from across India — including Maharashtra and Kashmir. "Cycling is one of the most affordable and empowering modes of transport," she said. "For homemakers and low-income women, it means independence. All you need is a cycle and some air in the tyres." While Fort Kochi is seen as progressive, Zeenath noted that traditional gender roles still persist. "We're challenging that — reclaiming public space and agency." The ride ended on a festive note with a darbuka performance by Jijo Soman and the Indus Cycling Embassy, Trivandrum, adding rhythm to the rain-soaked night. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
To bring forth a ‘mindset change,' women to pedal on Fort Kochi streets at night
On Saturday night, women on bicycles will hit the streets of Fort Kochi, declaring their freedom from restrictive societal norms that set conditions for exercising their right to movement. Around 30 women, aged between 15 and 70, are expected to participate in the 'Freedom Night Ride', dubbed a bold statement of freedom, safety, and empowerment. The event is being organised by SheCycling, a nationwide bicycle literacy campaign for women and girls by BYCS India, an NGO that has been imparting free cycling training to women and regularly organising rides in Kochi for the past three years. Kochi Corporation, Kerala Cycling Association, Centre for Heritage, and Environment & Development are among the agencies supporting the ride that is open to women of all age groups. The ride will start from the St. Francis Church around 9 p.m. Women will pedal their way through the heritage-rich tourist sites of Fort Kochi before ending their ride on the Fort Kochi beach around 10.30 p.m. The event will also have brief stopovers at local teashops, as part of a larger community bonding, storytelling, and music sessions. 'Instilling confidence' 'The whole idea is to transform the mindset of women, the public, and the policymakers. The objective of free cycling coaching is to facilitate women's right to freedom of movement while instilling confidence in them. Women's empowerment leads to the empowerment of families and society at large,' said Zeenath M.A., SheCycling's Senior National Project Coordinator. This will be the maiden night ride organised as part of the campaign. Mostly, those who learned cycling through the campaign would be the participants. Last year, the Piravom municipality funded free cycling training to around 25 women. Ms. Zeenath had also trained women in Kashmir at the invitation of the Tourism department there and had coached cycling trainers in Pune. Last week, she trained 32 Haritha Karma Sena members in riding electric tricycles. SheCycling, supported by BYCS India and the global cycling movement BYCS Amsterdam, has trained over 1,000 women across India, turning bicycles into instruments of freedom.
