Co-organiser Ruth Barton said the local event was part of a global initiative that began in Turkey in 2013 and now took place in about 80 countries around the world.
"It is about encouraging new riders ... women are under-represented in cycling in New Zealand."
The aim was to reclaim the streets and celebrate cycling as something that all women could enjoy without thinking they had to wear lycra or "sporting clothes", Ms Barton said.
"The whole colourful thing is just, it is about fun and visibility."
The Dunedin Fancy Women Bike Ride is on Sunday September 18, starting at the Octagon at 11am, riding to the Railway Station for a group photo, then it will follow bike lanes along Fryatt St through the Dunedin harbourside heritage precinct before heading to the Steamer Basin for refreshments, then returning to the Octagon.
"So it is a nice short ride; it is about 4km and it is flat all the way," Ms Barton said.
Children in bike seats or supervised children riding their own bikes were welcome, and men were also welcome, provided they adhered to the "fancy" dress code. If there was poor weather the ride would be postponed to the following weekend.
