International Women's Day (IWD) is marked each year on March 8th. Before the First World War broke out, Russian women observed their first IWD on February 23rd. Later, it was agreed IWD would be celebrated annually on March 8th – the Gregorian calendar equivalent to February 23rd on the Orthodox calendar. IWD has been observed in different countries since the early 1900’s and was celebrated by the United Nations (UN) for the first time in 1975. On March 8th we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women globally. This is also the day that marks a call to action for greater gender equality. 

SABRINA – Safer Bicycle Routes in Danube Area project focuses on road infrastructure safety for cyclists as one of the most vulnerable road users. We are a team of 11 project partners’ organizations and institutions from 9 Danube area countries. More than half of our team are women. For this year’s International Women’s Day, we got together to inspire, empower, and celebrate. We talked about what we love about our jobs and cycling as well as what could and should be different in the mobility space.

Raluca Fiser, Founder and President of the Green Revolution Association, Romania
Having the conscience that each step really can help to make a bigger, more fundamental change in behavior to foster more sustainable cities and healthier people. 

Sanja Leš, Legal Advisor for the EU and international projects, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences, Croatia
The most rewarding part of my job is to work amongst top road safety experts to improve road infrastructure safety for cyclists and having the sense of doing something bigger than myself as an individual.

Jenna Slavova, Communications Manager, Club “Sustainable Development of Civil Society”, Bulgaria
The most rewarding part of my job is the effect my work has on our society through improvement in the environmental sector, culture, and tourism sectors as well as healthier ways of living. More and more people are open to spending their time in nature, trying different types of traveling, like kayaking, cycling, ecological buses, etc. This also means that people can make exciting new friendships while traveling and spend time admiring beautiful sights.

Lucia Ilieva, Mobility Consultant and Chairperson of Club “Sustainable Development of Civil Society”, Bulgaria
The meetings and exchange of experience with my colleagues working in the mobility area all over the world.

Tatiana Mihailova, Project Manager, Automobile Club of Moldova
In the framework of national and international projects, we can offer support to the local people in urban and rural areas. I love projects for rural or remote areas, firstly because I grew up there and I know how people in villages need more support, and secondly, they are so open and grateful for the new knowledge, tools, educational and useful materials we are providing through the projects.

Virginia Mandalac, Project Manager, Automobile Club of Moldova
The most rewarding and motivating part of my work is the moment when I see my print in the change of road users' behavior, particularly with regards to children.  It gives me new forces for action when what was planned is realized and this has a positive impact on the road safety situation in my country and elsewhere.

Jitka Vrtalová, Marketing Manager, Partnership for Urban Mobility, Czech Republic
It's great to do work that makes sense and enjoy it at the same time. I am pleased that more and more politicians see the need for change. The number of people who accept responsibility for the future development and life of our children and their children is growing. I am very happy about that.

Marlene Mellauner, Active Mobility projects Staff member, Austrian Road Safety Board
When it is possible to bridge the gap between research and practice and vice versa as well as between different sectors which are pursuing the same goals.

Anja Soršak, Project Communications Manager, European Institute of Road Assessment – EuroRAP, Slovenia
I love to work in an international environment with many inspiring people, both women and men. We all have different backgrounds and sets of skills, so working with my colleagues gives me the opportunity to grow professionally as well as personally. 

Aneja Rože, Project and Communications Manager, Municipality of Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia
I am interested in environmental history, especially how people affect the environment and vice versa. In this work, I like to be a part of how people change and shape the cultural landscape according to their current needs, especially through planning transport infrastructure.
 

Raluca Fiser
Women generally have a different approach and perspective. Including both, female and male, in decision-making processes in the cycling sector – from urban planning to bike-industry up to policies and behavior change guarantees a more inclusive, creative, and successful result. 

Sanja Leš 
It is commonly known that women are very emotionally oriented and have an innate sense of concern for both other people and the environment in which they reside. I believe that women’s perspective would make a perfect balance and contribute greatly to road safety, and thus provide a compassionate and reasonable component in decision-making related to cycling infrastructure projects. However, I strongly believe that need women’s as well as men’s perspective and there should be no “great divide” – we should work together in raising awareness in this important matter and improve road infrastructure safety for all road users for future generations. I would like to believe that in a few decades we will reach Vision Zero goals. 

Jenna Slavova
Women are more empathetic and see the overall picture related to mobility. They pay more attention to youth in general, climate change, etc. That is why it is important to have equal participation in the cycling sector projects and decision-making processes.

Lucia Ilieva
Women are as smart as men and there is no reason for them not to take part in the mobility decision-making process. Moreover, women are more in contact with children and it is important to teach them from an early age to love cycling.

Tatiana Mihailova
Our life experience proves that women take care of everything and everyone, they are more responsible when thinking of the children and breadwinners. Moreover, they are more sensitive to any issue of the community. So, I consider women are the best advocate for a healthier lifestyle and safe cycling, being persuasive, and having great management and organizational skills.

Virginia Mandalac
Gender equality shall be present everywhere including in cycling. In the past, the bicycle was the symbol of female emancipation. At the same time, women are more sensitive and cautious when thinking about a healthy next generation. It is important to choose and favor alternative transport and its promotion in our hard times.

Jitka Vrtalová
It's hard to say anything about men or women in general. In my experience, women grind the edges, emphasize teamwork, are ready to communicate and change their attitudes. At the same time, however, I have a number of great men around me who can be said the same.

Marlene Mellauner 
Because any process should represent the composition of society, be demographically stratified. If cycling should be for all ages and abilities, we urgently need the diverse experiences and input of women and men who take an everyday life perspective into account when planning, implementing and assessing processes in cycling. 

Anja Soršak 
Because women have a different perspective and understanding of mobility in general. So, including both genders in mobility space, cycling sector, and decision-making processes will give better and more inclusive results. 

Aneja Rože
The representation of women in cycling sector projects and decision-making processes seems self-evident to me nowadays, as both biological sexes are equal. All their perspectives should be self-evident in the cycling sector. More than the biological sex, I find it more important to include the natural and social sciences and humanities in projects and decision-making processes in the cycling sector.
 

Raluca Fiser
Safety is the most important tagline when talking to women about cycling. They think about their safety but more often the safety of their loved ones. Therefore, projects like SABRINA are so important because they work to unleash the full potential of cycling by focusing on cycling infrastructure safety. Doubled by sometimes culturally linked behavior of other participants in traffic, what is supposed to be a peaceful way to get around (practical, healthy, and sustainable), can easily turn into a stress factor (from infrastructure, harassment, etc.).

Sanja Leš
Women are more sensitive about some matters than men are and are more prone to be concerned about consequences – thus I believe that women would ride bicycles more often if the cycling infrastructure was safer. This is where project SABRINA steps in and I am very excited to follow the project implementation and to bring the results to the attention of the public.

Jenna Slavova
In many countries the safety infrastructure is not appropriate for cyclists - there are no bike lanes. Drivers are very often intolerant to cyclists. That is why in my opinion women are more concerned and often afraid to cycle among cars and other vehicles.

Lucia Ilieva
This depends on the local way of life, customs, and manners.

Tatiana Mihailova
Probably, women think riding a bicycle is not safe enough. Certainly, safety is a top priority, therefore we need an accessible and safe cycling infrastructure for everyone.  

Virginia Mandalac
As for me, I think one of the reasons would be the lack of or poor state of cycling infrastructure, along with fear and concerns about their safety or even sexual harassment in unsafe places.

Jitka Vrtalová
We conducted several surveys on the topic of different behavior and perceptions in transport. Barriers related to cycling for women are mainly connected to the perceived level of safety. Women have a stronger sense of perceived risk and their behavior is also more dependent on ratings from others. Cycling is associated with certain stereotypes in many countries. Where cycling is considered less safe, women are more subject to social pressures and generally less tolerant of the accusation that they not only endanger themselves but also put their children at risk by cycling. In cities and countries with favorable conditions for bicycle transport, there is practically no difference between the number of women and men who travel by bicycle. The number of women and children on the bike is a litmus test for how inclusive and friendly cities are.

Marlene Mellauner 
Women are not considered in transport, especially not those who are responsible for care work like providing for dependents such as children, sick and elderly. Cycling is not yet the easiest choice. In countries with high levels of cycling, there tends to be little to no difference between genders and age groups. In countries with low cycling shares, these differences are large, with the majority of cyclists being young and middle-aged men. According to studies the reasons are related to trip characteristics like escort, multi-purpose, and/or encumbered trips, cultural norms associating cycling with risk tolerance and sportiness, and infrastructural preferences in terms of preferring segregation of motor traffic.

Anja Soršak 
In my experience, especially outside of the urban areas, people see cycling more as recreation and not so much as a transportation option. As a free-time activity, cycling might be more of a male sport. However, it is great to see more and more ladies on their bikes. Safety is always an important factor, probably even more so for women than men. Especially when it comes to bicycle as a mode of transport to your job, to do errands, to send kids to school, etc., safe cycling infrastructure is crucial. If it does not exist, there are in general far fewer people on their bikes, and that goes especially for women. 

Aneja Rože
Due to the influence of past perceptions of cycling, which was associated with greater physical activity that was only suitable for men.
 

Raluca Fiser
For me, cycling has always meant freedom and the most sustainable and sensible way to move around. Because it is better in slow motion.

Sanja Leš
Riding a bike brings a sense of freedom, independence, love, and appreciation of the environment.

Jenna Slavova
The bike gives me freedom, speed, and joy when using my own muscles to move.

Tatiana Mihailova
When I ride my bicycle, I love the pleasant movement and light wind. I love to ride with my husband and my friends as a way of recreation. But I think the time has come to ride my bike daily and use it as a green and alternative way of transport to the workplace. I am pleased to be part of a new 'era' and new infrastructure in terms of cycling, mobility, and safety in Moldova.  

Virginia Mandalac
I like to ride my bicycle because it gives the feeling of freedom and it is a very efficient way to combine the useful with the pleasant.

Jitka Vrtalová
It is a fast, convenient, and practical mode of transport. But there is something more to it. Anyone who has experienced the feeling of returning after an hour of cycling, out of breath, and with a strange feeling of happiness, knows this.

Marlene Mellauner 
For me, riding my bicycle daily is the easiest and most independent, and joyful way of getting around. The physical activity and interaction with my environment – city and people – while cycling makes me benefit from each journey. It is good for my body and soul and helps to keep the work-life balance.

Anja Soršak 
I always loved to use the power of my two legs to move around, either walking or cycling. Cycling brings a smile to my face. It gives me the opportunity to feel the world passing by: smelling, hearing, and seeing it. 

Aneja Rože
I experienced an unpleasant fall from my bike a few years ago on a gravel road, after which I no longer wanted to ride my bike. Now I have taken courage and I am slowly falling in love with the bike and losing my fear. I like that I can get from point A to point B faster by bike than on foot.

Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at the SABRINA project team.