A Powerful Pledge for the New Year

In 2012, Sarai Snyder started a global movement to get more women riding.

Almost single-handedly, the Boulder resident and founder of Girl Bike Love created Cyclofemme, a worldwide call to inspire women to ride on Mother’s Day. In its first year, more than 163 events were celebrated in 14 countries and the buzz was off the charts. At Interbike, Sndyer’s table was a constant stream of eager women and men itching to get temporary tattoos of the elegant logo and more information about the innovative idea.

This year, Snyder aims to double the participation in Cyclofemme. How? By harnessing the power of… you.

A longtime presence in the bicycle movement, the Cyclofemme founder recognized perhaps the most important ingredient in getting more women on wheels: an invitation. How many of us started riding because a friend or family member took us on a ride, helped us buy the right bike or pedaled with us on our first commute to work? The power of personal outreach and encouragement can’t be understated — especially if we aim to get more women on bikes.

So Snyder came up with a brilliant idea — a personal pledge to “inspire one more woman to ride a bike.”

“The pledge is a reminder that, if we want to see more people riding bikes, we have to make a conscious commitment to invest our personal energy toward that goal,” Snyder says. “Women are great influencers as mothers, teachers, and mentors. By inspiring more women to ride bikes, not only are we growing our numbers; we are also effectively creating strong ambassadors to use the bike for positive social change.”

The pledge is simple but inspirational:

I believe in the power of the pedal for positive social change; for building a healthier, happier, smarter world.

I pledge to be an ambassador of the bicycle; to honor the past; celebrate the present; empower the future of women in cycling.

I promise to start the revolution; to live the change I want to see; to rally another to ride with me.

That revolution is spreading nationwide. Already, hundreds of women and men have signed the pledge — including, of course, yours truly.

Download the pledge here to make your commitment to women’s cycling.

And register for the National Women’s Bicycling Summit — Snyder will be among our featured speakers!