Dosy Bikes revolutionized women's mobility in Egypt by introducing a digital transformation platform that not only offered bike-riding lessons but also facilitated the direct rental and purchase of bikes through partnerships with suppliers. This approach made biking accessible, eliminating accessibility barriers. Additionally, the platform offered a sign-up option for women who want to become trainers themselves, fostering a self-sustaining community.

More than just a service, Dosy Bikes deeply engaged with women's journey towards biking at every stage, addressing societal challenges with practical, affordable solutions.

A HARSH REALITY UNFOLDS

Egyptian streets and public transportation should be pathways to opportunity for young Egyptian women, opening doors to education, work, and social engagement. But instead, they have become barriers overshadowing their journey with intimidation and anxiety.

99.3% mid-to-lower income women in Egypt have experienced some form of sexual harassment on the streets in public spaces, including on public transportation.

86% of women have experienced harassment on public transportation, including verbal harassment, groping, or other forms of assault.

EGYPT'S ECONOMIC STRUGGLES AND THE RISING IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN'S EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT AMIDST HARASSMENT CONCERNS:

Amidst the backdrop of persistent harassment, Egypt has faced three significant waves of currency devaluation, triggering a cost-of-living crisis.

During these tough economic times, the importance of advancing women's education and employment has never been more crucial. Empowering women to pursue further education and enter the workforce is essential for their independence and for providing financial support to their families.

NAVIGATING THROUGH FEAR: THE EVERYDAY CHALLENGE FOR EGYPTIAN WOMEN:

Every day, navigating public spaces and transport systems is a daunting experience for young Egyptian women, particularly those from middle-to-lower-income backgrounds.

In a challenging economy, where buying or renting cars isn't feasible, these women face limited choices. Staying home for safety isn't an option when education and earning a living are essential.

They remain caught in a relentless everyday dilemma - compromise on their safety on streets or compromise their education and livelihood.

Most end up compromising on their own freedom from the fear of and the reality of harassment on the streets in their cities.

DOSY, A NEW SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, FORMED BY TWO YOUNG EGYPTIAN WOMEN WANTED TO HELP:

And we needed to help transform streets from spaces offering threat of harassment everyday into spaces promising opportunity and independence every day.

Dosy Bikes.

A life-changing business idea that got thousands of young Egyptian women from middle-to-lower income class FREEDOM from the harassment they faced on the streets through bikes.

The name "Dosy" itself is a powerful call to action, meaning 'push and move forward.' It reflects the brand's core mission to empower women to take control of their mobility in a society where seeing women on motorcycles is a rarity.

We extended an invitation to young women to break this stereotype by learning to ride bikes. Whether heading to work or pursuing their education, Dosy Bikes provided them with an unconventional but effective transportation solution.

Women, who once felt restricted by the challenges of public transportation and the threats of street harassment, now had a viable, empowering alternative to reclaim their right to the city.

We targeted middle-to-low-income women in Cairo and Alexandria, who often bear the financial burden of their households. With 37% of Egyptian households relying on female earners and the economic strain intensified by currency devaluation, the pressure on women to support their families has never been greater.

With 86% of women facing harassment on public transportation, the streets became zones of fear rather than freedom, and they had no choice to choose their safety.

Harassment on the streets and in public in public transport wasn't merely an infringement on these women’s’ safety- but a barrier to their freedom, limiting their choices and their ability to fully realize who they can be.

As a social enterprise, it was crucial to shift the streets who have become a space of fear for those women to a space where women feel free, empowered, and ready to unleash their full potential: freedom.

We invited women and young girls to learn how to drive bikes to work or studies, in a country where it’s uncommon for women to be spotted on motorcycles.

And FREEDOM was at the heart of it all though a simple online platform.

EDUCATE

The online platform connected those who needed support, with female trainers to help them learn, with a variety of lessons ranging from 18 dollars to 112 dollars, making it not only convenient, but affordable too.

EQUIP

The platform provided access to partner companies where they could rent or buy a bike with cost-effective and affordable schemes to dissolve accessibility barriers.

EMPOWER

We even revealed new professional pathways. Women were supported to earn additional income through taking on jobs as bike trainers to other women which kept the empowerment cycle going.

Over 16,000 young Egyptian women have participated in our initiative.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with a 98% positive sentiment rating.

We reached 73% of the Egyptian population, sparking significant interest and dialogue.

Our efforts garnered unprecedented local and global media coverage, generating $2.9 million in earned media value with $0 media budget.

User-generated content led to a 500% increase in media and social mentions for Dosy, the parent company, in 2023 vs. 2022, providing Dosy Bikes with free social ads.

Notably, we received organic endorsements and participation from celebrities and from male influencers, who supported the cause by creating online bike tutorials for women.

Our project earned awards and significant funding, highlighted by recognitions such as the “We Empower” UN SDG Global Challenge 2023, The Halcyon Intensive MENA 2023, and acknowledgment by UN Women & the Canadian Embassy in Cairo in 2023.

CULTURAL CONTEXT

Egyptian streets and public transportation should be pathways to opportunity for young Egyptian women, opening doors to education, work, and social engagement. But instead, they have become barriers overshadowing their journey with intimidation and anxiety due to the high incidence of harassment in public spaces.

And due to a challenging economy, most of these women have become essential contributors to their household income. Their participation in the workforce and in education was crucial, and this left them compromising on their own safety in the streets, navigating every day through FEAR- limiting their choices and their ability to fully realize who they can be.

There was a pressing need to introduce and endorse an alternative transportation mode that would shift the streets from areas of fear for women into spaces of freedom, empowerment, and opportunity, enabling them to fully embrace and unlock their potential.