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Yalla Let's Bike

Syria

1970 - 1970
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Project Description

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The “Yalla Let’s Bike Syria” initiative is a community development project focused on Damascus and other Syrian cities, launched to promote cycling as a tool for women’s empowerment and sustainable mobility . Unique for challenging gender norms in a conservative society, the project began in 2018 amid Syria’s conflict, aiming to “empower women to take control of their mobility” through cycling . It aligns with broader goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (gender equality) and 13 (climate action), while addressing urban transportation challenges worsened by war . By integrating cycling into daily life, it seeks to foster social inclusion and reduce carbon emissions, reflecting Syria’s grassroots climate resilience efforts .

Though no official size is documented, the project operates across Damascus and has expanded to cities like Latakia (UCI). Key components include cycling workshops teaching repair skills, community-led bike rides to build camaraderie, and advocacy campaigns to normalize women cycling in public spaces . Sustainability is central: promoting non-motorized transport reduces fossil fuel reliance and air pollution, while recycled bikes are often used to lower costs . The initiative also prioritizes accessibility, creating safe routes and female-only cycling events to counter harassment . By reviving cycling—a once-common practice eroded by war—the project blends tradition with innovation, using bikes as symbols of freedom and practicality in a fractured society .

Founded by Nour Jarrouj, a Syrian cyclist and activist, the project collaborates with local NGOs, international donors, and UN agencies like UNFCCC . Early phases (2018–2020) focused on pilot workshops and distributing donated bicycles, while later stages (2021–ongoing) expanded training programs and advocacy networks (UCI). As of 2023, over 1,000 women have participated in rides and workshops, with cycling clubs now active in multiple cities . Despite funding challenges, the initiative persists, aiming to make cycling a “normalized, safe, and sustainable transport option for all Syrians” . Jarrouj envisions it as a model for post-conflict recovery, proving that “even in war, women can pedal toward freedom” .

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