Are you a lady? Do you cycle? Then, according to research released by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, you’re in the minority for your gender.
Research from sustainable transport charity Sustrans shows that … the majority of women, 79%, are coming up with a variety of reasons why cycling’s not for them, with less that one in ten women cycling more than once a month.
Fears over safety and concerns about image are some of the problems quoted in the research. My own empirical evidence would support the research results, as on my commutes and rides in and around Belfast I see very few female cyclists and in our office of perhaps ten regular cycle commuters only one of them is a woman.
To combat this gender gap, Sustrans have launched a new Bike Belles website to promote cycling specifically for women.
This year Sustrans would like to help women redress the cycling gender imbalance with activities designed to get more women on their bikes. A new website www.bikebelles.org.uk goes live on Wednesday 11 March with information on getting cycling, what to wear, where to go and how to do it. Cycling celebrities including Dawn Porter and Alice Roberts are lending their support, and a specially recruited women’s panel who range from non to fair-weather cyclists will share ideas and experiences, try out bike training, and “road test” cycling products such as lights, bags and clothing. Sustrans will also be organising female-friendly cycle rides in the summer using traffic-free sections of the National Cycle Network.
Cycling in Northern Ireland would certainly seem to be male dominated, but there is no good reason why it must be so and we could use more women getting involved the sport, at any level.
If you’re of the female persuasion and have been even half considering getting on your bike, but have been put off by concerns over traffic, cycling fashion or preserving your hairdo (seriously), visit Bike Belles to find the answers to your problems and put your fears aside. “Today is a good day to ride” applies to you too!
I just cycle the same route along the tow path from Maysfield to Shaw’s Bridge; too nervous to go on the roads and do not like the wind or rain. However, I cycled on Boxing day, when it was frosty!
Are any of the female cyclists retired, like myself?