Cyclists are being encouraged to hitch up their skirts or dresses for International Women’s Day.

Pedal Power ACT is hosting the Fancy Women’s Bicycle Ride 2025 on Saturday 8 March.

It invites women – and anyone who wants to wear a skirt in solidarity – to take part in the event to “encourage women to cycle so that more women can ride bicycles”.

The slogan of the event, which takes cyclists on a 6.2-kilometre route around the Civic area, is “be women, be visible”.

Riders are encouraged to dress up with fancy hat helmet covers, feather boas and fun dresses.

Pedal Power ACT executive director Cecily Michaels said the ride brings the community together for some fun.

“While looking amazing and having fun decorating your bicycle,” Ms Michaels said.

“Then riding in solidarity and being safe together, riding on the road and showing how riding is possible.”

She said all cycling groups are welcome to join.

Ms Michaels said cycling was the answer to everything.

“Every problem in the world, your health, your mental and physical health, your finances, sustainability for the environment and our future,” she said.

“The solution for traffic congestion and everything is cycling.

“Canberra is a fantastic place for cycling.”

It is one of the community events Pedal Power ACT is running this year to celebrate the association’s 50^th anniversary.

“We had the first protest ride in 1974 at the end of the year from Belconnen into Civic – that was all fixed,” Ms Michaels said.

“We had our first committee meeting on 29 January 1975.

“We were incorporated on 11 November so that’s when we’ll have our big hurrah for our 50^th but this whole year we consider our anniversary year.”

The association now represents about 6,000 members, with a team of paid staff supported by hundreds of volunteers.

Pedal Power ACT’s vision is for Canberra to become the cycling capital of Australia.

Its mission is to advance the health and wellbeing of the community through the promotion of the safe and convenient use of bicycles and other pedal-powered vehicles.

In the early 1970s there was a cycling boom, and with it, the push for better infrastructure.

When Canberra’s first bicycle path opened from Dickson to the Australian National University, there were still few options for people to ride to work safely.

Frustrated by the lack of planning for the growing needs of cyclists, the aforementioned protest ride was organised by Canberrans Howard Rawson and Bill Crowle, which was attended by more than 50 riders.

Ms Michaels said nowadays the association had advocates in every electorate.

“Pedal Power has been the key advocate, no-one else does advocacy for cycling,” she said.

You can view the Fancy Women’s Bicycle Ride 2025 route at ridewithgps.com/routes/49575949

There is no cost to enter but bookings are encouraged at pedalpower.tidyhq.com/public/schedule/events

Another event will be held on 1 March to celebrate the group’s volunteers, and on May the 4th, a family ride day will be held encouraging people to dress up as their favourite Star Wars character.

The rides are supported through the ACT Government City Renewal Authority’s Placemaking Grants program.

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