Women Empowerment Ride (WERide)
WE Ride (Women Empowerment Ride) is a girls’ cycling program designed to engage, inspire, and motivate young women to embrace the sport of cycling. WE Ride empowers 9- to 14-year-olds’ to build self confidence in a fun and safe manner while fostering an appreciation for the benefits cycling has to offer. This all-girls’ cycling program introduces and guides young women towards learning a variety of skills including bike handling, mechanical skills, and teamwork.
The Iowa City Bike Library partnered with Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County to develop this Spring/Summer/Fall program in 2018. These two organizations have a long-standing commitment to the promotion of biking as a way to build confidence and care for the earth. Each Summer WERide holds a youth girls cycling camp and meets periodically throughout the Summer months to work on skills and go on adventures by bicycle.
The Iowa City Bike Library partnered with Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County to develop this Spring/Summer/Fall program in 2018. These two organizations have a long-standing commitment to the promotion of biking as a way to build confidence and care for the earth. Each Summer WERide holds a youth girls cycling camp and meets periodically throughout the Summer months to work on skills and go on adventures by bicycle.
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WE Ride girls recently were asked to complete the sentence, I love biking because... Here’s what a few of them said.
I love biking because… “It feels like you’re in a new world.” “It gives me a lot!!!! of energy.” “It can calm you down.” “It makes me feel free.” “I like feeling the wind on my face.” 
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WERide to School - Alexander and Weber Elementary
WE Ride to School, for recreation, transportation, adventure; enjoying the outdoors and nature together.
We hold bike skills training camps called Bike Club (K - 6 boys and girls) and WERide (ages 8 - 14 girls only). Once Summer is over volunteer facilitate WERide to School. We ride to and from school once a week when school is in session. Any child with a safe bike and helmet can ride, but it is the young women of WERide who lead the ride. This gives them the opportunity to showcase leadership skills and give the boys an opportunity to support them in this role. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN WE CAN RIDE TO SCHOOL TOGETHER AGAIN, HOWEVER, DUE TO COVID WE ARE RUNNING OTHER YOUTH BIKE INITIATIVES.
When asked why biking makes her feel confident, Galia said, “Because there’s a lot of people uplifting you. If I fall, they help me get up [and say] ‘Let’s try again.’”