Women bicyclists in F-9 reclaim public spaces

Female-led initiative dismantles barriers to women engaging in outdoor recreational activities

For the past few months, the F-9 Park in Islamabad has been witnessing groups of women bicycling through its serene, wooded tracks. ‘Excuse me, is this open for anyone to join?’ asked a woman, stopping her car next to one of the cyclists streaming past. ‘Yes, it is!’ The young girl in a headscarf riding the bicycle responded.

Every weekend, women of all ages from across the twin cities and other nearby areas gather under a sky of limitless possibilities with bicycles in tow to circuit the park and network, all while fulfilling their dreams of freely making use of public spaces as they are meant to be.

For many women, cycling in an open street without a care in the world and the wind rushing past is a luxury that gets left behind with their childhood. This unvoiced wish was heard by a woman who was looking for a safe and accessible space to bicycle unobstructed for herself, when she realised it simply did not exist.

Rubab Fatima, a women’s rights activist and artist, recognised the repressed need for women-friendly spaces and communities offering access to healthy outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, horse riding and more. In principle, these activities should be easily accessible for anyone living in a city with numerous parks, hiking trails and sports clubs. However, many of these amenities fail to encourage women’s participation because they remain ignorant of their specific concerns, such as those about safety and modesty, especially during physical activities.

The eat.breathe.heal initiative is a platform which curates women-only creative recreational activities while catering to everyone’s needs. A mother of two herself, Rubab is aware of the challenges women face in fulfilling the simplest of wishes, and she makes sure that anyone, regardless of age, profession or skill level, can participate without hesitation.

At the cycling sessions, which have become eat.breathe.heal’s most popular activity, with more than 30 women joining every week, women who have not bicycled since childhood as well as those who have never ridden are both welcome. Bicycles are provided as part of the sessions, and trainers onsite help women learn and practice, allowing teenagers and even those in their forties to pick up a physical skill in two hours.

Rubab Fatima, a women’s rights activist and artist, recognised the repressed need for women-friendly spaces and communities offering access to healthy outdoor activities like cycling, hiking, horse riding and more. PHOTO: EXPRESS TRIBUNE

“I would often dream of being able to cycle as I used to when I was little, but even when I have gotten the chance, I would feel very conscious of my weight and also that I wear an abaya,’ said a woman in her forties, who is a mother of three and a regular participant alongside her daughter. “I am so happy to have found a community like this where I fear no judgment.”

Aside from cycling, activities include painting sessions while boating across Rawal Lake, camping in the Margallas, archery lessons, themed picnics and other events especially designed to offer women experiences that are difficult for them to arrange for themselves.

“What drives me is knowing everyone’s pain. I know the pain of women who have given up on doing things just for themselves, and I want them to find a community where they can heal, breathe and be themselves again,” said Rubab speaking to The Express Tribune. “A lot of women come up to me and thank me for making possible what was previously inconceivable to them.”

The demand for women-only activities and spaces is visible. In the past six months alone, the initiative has seen 800 individual women participate in the various events. Fuelled by Instagram ads’ reach to the growing number of independent, young working women in Islamabad, many similar initiatives have followed suit. However, opportunities that offer recreational activities which are approachable and safe for all women, regardless of age or background, remain rare.