Meanings and motivations of women’s participation in the “Mujer Muévete en Bici” project in Salinas: a phenomenological approach

Abstract

Introduction: This study analyzes the meanings and motivations that women attribute to their participation in the municipal project Mujer Muévete en Bici in the canton of Salinas, Ecuador, from a qualitative phenomenological approach. The research responds to the need to deepen the understanding of the participants’ lived experiences, considering that, although there are initiatives aimed at promoting active mobility and women’s well-being, there is still limited academic production addressing these practices from women’s subjectivity, particularly in intermediate cities. Objective: To analyze the meanings and motivations of women’s participation in the Mujer Muévete en Bici project, based on their lived experiences, in order to understand its impact on integral well-being, women’s empowerment, and the relationship with urban space. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted under a qualitative approach with a phenomenological design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirty women participating in the collective, along with interviews with key informants and a focus group. The information was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through a phenomenological analysis process. Results and Discussion: The results reveal motivations associated with health care, the need for personal spaces, and stress reduction, as well as improvements in well-being, sorority, and autonomy. Conclusions: The project is configured as a transformative social device with potential for institutionalization and local replicability.