Dagmar Köhler tells us about the importance of her organization, Women in Cycling Germany, in this latest installment in our Women’s Month series. If you’d like to connect with Dagmar, reach out to her here or come to the after work drinks hosted by Women in Cycling Germany this Thursday (27/03) at Mobycon’s office in Berlin.
Do you remember that infamous photo from a lunch at the Munich Security Conference, the one with a long lunch table full of white men in suits? Or the picture of the CDU/CSU leadership team following Germany’s recent federal elections—six men, no women? These images are stark reminders of who holds decision-making power. They also raise a critical question: whose realities shape the frameworks within which budgets are allocated, policies are made, and investments flow?
This is precisely why I dedicate time and energy to the Women in Cycling Germany (WiCG) network. We are here to shift this reality, to create space for perspectives that have been sidelined for too long.
At WiCG, our mission is clear and ambitious:
One of our key objectives is to bring more diversity into decision-making roles. But when we look around at our own network, we see a group of middle-aged, white, female academics. Is this a problem? In some ways, yes.
Our goal isn’t just to add women to the table—it’s to ensure that the table itself reflects a broad spectrum of experiences and perspectives. Are we missing voices? Are we unintentionally reinforcing exclusion? These are questions we continue to ask ourselves.
Being part of this network means pushing myself to think beyond my own experiences. I recognize that my reality is not universal. There are many voices still missing, people whose perspectives should be influencing infrastructure planning, product development, and cycling policies but who haven’t been invited into the conversation yet.
So, how do we bridge this gap? By actively listening, by allowing uncomfortable conversations, and by creating a space where new ideas are not just welcomed but encouraged.
It’s one thing to talk about change; it’s another to make it happen. Here are some highlights of what we’ve already been doing:
Alongside the amazing Isabell Eberlein, Angela Francke and Mareike Rauchhaus, I created Women in Cycling Germany in 2023. Since then, we’ve become a movement bringing together fabulous women from across the country (and beyond). I have personally expanded my network, and it has become a safety net—when I take risks, I know I am not alone.
This community has given me the confidence to challenge the status quo, to take on projects that might have seemed too ambitious before, and to support others in doing the same.
There is still much to do. But with every new member, every new perspective, and every step we take toward systemic change, I see the impact of our work. Women’s Month is a beautiful reminder why I continue to invest my time and energy into Women in Cycling Germany—because representation matters, and the future of cycling and mobility should be shaped by everyone who moves.
Would you like to join Women in Cycling Germany, or are you looking for info about their event in Berlin on Thursday 27/3? Join the group on LinkedIn here!
For more about women in the transport sector, check out this post on our blog by Angela van der Kloof. Interested in hearing more from our mobility leaders? Book a study tour with us this summer!
