Nadia Zewari

Najia Zewari is co-founder of Women’s Cycling Network (WCN), an inclusive group of cyclists identifying and challenging the barriers to cycling for women in the GTA. 

“Many Afghan women want to bike, but they are scared if someone sees. They dream to bike, it’s like they dream to fly. They learned — all the newcomers. They felt empowered. They felt they could relate to the community. These women had experienced war and bomb blasts. Bicycle riding relaxes them. You need a peaceful mind.”

Zewari learned first-hand that bicycle riding also has other benefits as it “impacts health, depression, stress, isolation.”