A Cycle Of Gender Inequality?

Last week I wrote about how fear of traffic is preventing some people from choosing to cycle for transport, and forcing them into their cars. It has proved to be one of my most read articles so I have thought about it a great deal.

I realise that I failed to make a hugely important point clear in the article.

When I say ‘people’, what I actually mean is women.

Yes, some men also feel they cannot choose to cycle because they are afraid of the behaviour of some motorists, but it is women who are most likely to cite this reason.

‘I Don’t Want My Children To Die’

The woman I discussed in last week’s article says that she would cycle on her own, just not with her children because, ‘I don’t want my children to die’. This is one of the reasons why fear of the behaviour of drivers, and a lack of quality segregated infrastructure prevent more women from cycling. Women are still predominantly responsible for child care in our society. Just in case you missed it last week, I am going to repeat myself about cycling infrastructure…

…IF A FIVE YEAR OLD CANNOT RIDE IT ON THEIR OWN BIKE, THEN IT’S NOT A CYCLE ROUTE.

‘You’re Brave’

It’s not just about cycling with children. Not all women have children or need to travel with them.

The most frequent comment I get from non-cyclists – especially women – when I tell them that I cycle is, ‘you’re brave’. Funnily enough, when my husband tells other men that he cycles, they do not tell him how brave he is. Perhaps this is a difference in how women and men speak to each other. I think it has more to do with women viewing cycling as so risky that only the very brave would do so.

When women say, ‘you’re brave’ what we need to hear is that these women believe cycling is inherently dangerous and therefore not for them.

For over three years I have been a ‘Breeze Champion’, leading free bike rides for women. The majority of the rides I have led in that time have been aimed at novice cyclists. My Breeze rides are often 5-10 miles, which we take 1-2 hours to ride, usually with a coffee stop thrown in because…well, why wouldn’t you? Again and again and again on these rides, women tell me that they are afraid of cycling on roads alone. I have led rides where women push their bikes to the start point, because they are afraid of the drivers.

There are those who would argue that the roads are not actually that dangerous. As one person commented last week, ‘I think your friend’s a bit wet if she’s afraid.’ There is plenty of evidence that you are far greater risk of death from inactivity than you are of death from cycling (I would highly recommend reading Bike Nation for details). But here’s the thing about fear – it prevents people from doing things, even if that danger is perceived rather than real.

I am slightly embarrassed to admit to a fear of spiders. I know spiders are not dangerous in the UK. I know I am being ridiculous. I know I am being ‘a bit wet’. But I am still out of a room at speed if a spider appears.

Telling people to stop being wet and get on their bikes despite their fear, does not help.

In The Minority

It is well known that women are in the minority when it comes to cycling in the UK. This is true whether you are talking about cycling for transport, for leisure, or for sport. For the purpose of this article, I am focusing on cycling as a means of transport.

In June 2018, Sustrans published a report, Inclusive City Cycling. Women: Reducing the Gender Gap, as part of their Bike Life project. This is well worth a read. It clearly demonstrates that women are in the minority when it comes to cycling for transport, and that a lack of quality infrastructure is one of the biggest causes of this.

What Do We Want?

So what do women (and I suspect some men too, especially those who cycle with children) want. What would actually work to enable those women who want to cycle, to actually cycle?

Segregated Infrastructure

I’ll say it again…

……IF A FIVE YEAR OLD CANNOT RIDE IT ON THEIR OWN BIKE, THEN IT’S NOT A CYCLE ROUTE.

This is not just so that those with children (women or men) can cycle. It is so that all those people who are afraid of motorists can cycle. It is so that cycling can have the positive impact on mental health which has been shown to provide, rather than being stressful.

 Properly Segregated Infrastructure

To be clear, I do not mean segregate motorists and ‘others’. I mean segregated as in dedicated space for those on bikes…in addition to dedicated space for those choosing to travel on foot.

During lockdown 2020, traffic-free paths were clogged with walkers and cyclists. Great to see, yet it did create conflict. Walkers with headphones, children on bikes, and dogs on extendable leads are never going to mix well in those kinds of numbers. And those are exactly the kinds of numbers we need to see to boost the physical and mental health of our population.

Direct Routes

Another reason I frequently hear from women who do not cycle is ‘I’m not fit enough’. Personally, I don’t think this should be a barrier – start small, stay slow and the fitness will come. BUT, that’s like saying to me that spiders aren’t dangerous.

With ‘the powers that be’ lacking the courage to take space from motorists on the routes which people need to travel, we end up with absurd wiggly, winding, magical mystery tours around the back streets labelled as ‘cycle routes’. Job done, box ticked.

If you do not have confidence in your own physical ability, then you want to go the shortest possible distance between two points. Yet the ‘cycle route’ can add miles to a journey.

Add to this the frequently poor signposting, and the difficulty of watching for signs at the many many many junctions of the ‘cycle route’ at the same time as managing the motorists who strike the fear of God into you, and it is unsurprising that people also fear getting lost on their bike. As one person recently asked me, ‘is there such a thing as GPS for cycling?’

While on the subject of distance and physical ability, it is worth asking yourself – if driving a car 5 miles instead of 2 is no more difficult, why don’t we direct the motorists to the wiggly, winding magical mystery tour and leave the direct routes for active travel? After all, motorists often do have GPS. Just a thought…

Lighting

Cycle routes need to be lit.

I have a whole box full of bike lights in my garage. I keep charged lights on the bikes I use most often even in the summer because you never know when the weather might get very…well, Scottish. Dark and gloomy days do not stop me from riding a bike.

But, a pitch dark lane, on my own, does.

Few women feel safe to travel unlit paths alone at night.

An Absence of Obstacles

There are so many ways to transport children by bike. Bike trailers, cargo bikes, tandems, trikes. My own cargo bike has enabled me to cycle almost everywhere with my children since they were at playgroup.

But, trailers, cargo bikes and trikes are larger than your average bike, and frequently do not fit through the absurd barriers which are still being build into supposed cycle routes. Barriers which I believe are supposed to stop motorbikes but which do nothing of the sort. They do however stop people with unusual bikes.

It’s not just bikes for carrying children which are denied access by these barriers, it is any unusual sized bike, like handcycles, recumbents, and wheelchair cycles.

Fewer Judgemental Opinions

Over the years I have ridden bikes, there have always been a few who are over eager to share their negative opinions of my chosen mode of transport. I have never paid them much attention.

But when I started cycling with my children I was seriously taken aback by the escalation in verbal abuse. It seems that the minute you put your children on a bike, total strangers feel qualified to yell what they think of your parenting skills at you. I would like to say that I do not care what others think of me. I know that I do not put my children at risk and I know they are safe on my bike, but being judged and yelled at by ignorant people is still upsetting.

As for women who choose to ride a bike whilst pregnant….well it seems that is also fair game for being yelled at and judged.

Here’s the thing…every single one of those people who has chosen to judge and yell at me for my choices….has been male. Perhaps it’s just me.

Women are more than capable of assessing risk and making good judgements. We do not need your opinions.

It’s not just the judgement from angry non-cyclists which is unwelcome either. Then there’s the ‘advice’ offered to women on bikes, by men on bikes.

I have lost count of the number of times I have been told by a woman that their husband / boyfriend / father put them off cycling by telling them they were using their gears all wrong / riding with their saddle too low / over-geared / under-geared / wearing the wrong shoes / riding the wrong bike. This is the kind of advice I also offer to other women on bikes, but only in two circumstances: (a) they ask for my advice about something, or (b) I am coaching someone at a level where small tweaks to their position can make a difference to their performance and it is performance they are looking for.

Dear Male Cyclists…unless a woman asks for your advice, there is a good chance that your advice is not wanted or needed. You may think that woman on a bike needs your advice…there is a very good chance that you are wrong. By all means, if someone (woman or man) is at the side of the road with a puncture, slow down and ask if they would like assistance. You assistance will sometimes be very welcome….just don’t also tell that person that they need to put their saddle up.

Then there is advice from cycle campaigners. Don’t get me wrong, there are some wonderful people out there (women and men) who do fantastic work to promote cycling and improve conditions and infrastructure for cycling. Brilliant work, please keep doing what you’re doing. Only…don’t assume that you know what is and is not a ‘valid’ reason for not getting on a bike. If someone tells you why they don’t ride a bike, listen to them. It really doesn’t matter whether you think their reason is valid or not – it’s their reason and it’s valid for them. Support and enable – yes. Ridicule and criticise – no.

But…Isn’t It All About The Helmet Hair?

There is sometimes an assumption that women do not cycle for transport because they are judged more on appearance and do not want to arrive at work or anywhere else sweaty and dishevelled.

There is an element of truth around this. For men, having showers at work solves this. Great if your hair settles itself with a towelling and you don’t wear makeup. For some women, the availability of showers does not help.

However, I’m not talking about those who want to cycle commute fifteen miles each way to work because those people are riding bikes anyway. I’m talking about people who need to travel under 5 miles and who are more likely to cycle slowly. If you take your time then you don’t really get sweaty enough to need a shower. E-bikes are also great for avoiding sweatiness.

The problems of appearance and cycling stem from the image we portray of cycling. The images which are all around us of people dressing in lycra, high-vis and bike helmets. This is not any image that many non-cyclists can relate to. It is also not the image of everyday cycling for everyday people.

In Copenhagen cycling for transport is the norm. Studies have found very little difference in the numbers of men and women cycling in the city. Google ‘cycling in Copenhagen’ and look at the images. You will see women and men riding bikes wearing everyday clothing with no high vis in the daylight…and very few helmets.

The issue of helmets (and therefore ‘helmet hair’) is a real can or worms and I don’t really want to open it here (perhaps when I’m feeling braver). Personally, I wear a bike  helmet whenever I get on a bike. BUT, in a city where cycling is the norm and cycling infrastructure is top quality, it is notable that so many people deem helmets unnecessary. No helmets, no helmet hair.

So, what do we want…top quality infrastructure.

Do Women Really Want To Cycle?

Not all of them. Not all men want to cycle either. Not all women (or men) are able to cycle due to physical issues, work issues, or whatever other factors are going on in their lives.

And that is just fine.

I do not think that everyone should cycle any more than I think everyone should accept spiders in their house.

BUT, what I hear time and time again from women – often after ‘you’re brave’ is, ‘I’d like to cycle, but…’

We know that more women want to cycle. We saw it during lockdown 2020 when it seemed that everyone was out on a bike. We know it because initiatives like Breeze have been so successful. We know it because bike buses to schools are being established in all kinds of places, and in some cases are attracting huge numbers.

Not all women want to cycle, but plenty do.

A Symbol of Freedom?

The history of cycling is intricately bound up with the emancipation of women and the suffragette movement.

I’ll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood.

Susan B Anthony, US suffragist, 1896.

Cycling gave women a freedom previously denied to them. It also led to a revolution in clothing for women. ‘Bikes and Bloomers’ by Kat Jungnickel is a fascinating read.

Fast forward 125 years and the bike is no longer a symbol of freedom for the majority of women. The bikes are better, the clothing is better, but other road users make cycling inaccessible to many.

An Issue of Inclusion

Enabling women to cycle is not a matter of making women cycle. Cycling is not going to be the answer for all – women or men. It is a matter of inclusion, equality of opportunity and enabling choice.

With the best cycling infrastructure in the world, some will still choose to drive. Their reasons for doing so are unimportant (and are frankly none of my business). The point is that we must have that choice.

If you want to cycle and are able to do so, you should not live in fear of doing so.

We need to give women (and men) back the choice as to how they travel.

Do We Really Want Women To Cycle?

It doesn’t really matter whether you want women to cycle or not. We need more women to cycle.

Women still do the majority of the childcare and domestic chores in our society. This means that there is a difference in the types of journeys men and women make.

Women’s journeys around cities are typically shorter than men’s, use different modes of transport and are more likely to involve ‘trip-chaining’ (multi-stop journeys) which tend to be for a balance of child care, work and household responsibilities.

Sustrans: Inclusive City Cycling. Women: Reducing the Gender Gap. 2018,

These short journeys are exactly the ones which are ideal for cycling. With panniers it is possible to carry an incredible amount by bike – probably not a big weekly shop for the family, but those little bits and pieces you pop in for after dropping the kids at school or on your way home from work. Imagine the difference it would make to congestion, air pollution, and safety on our roads if more people left the car at home for these short journeys. You don’t even have to imagine it, you just have to compare the roads around schools between term-time and holiday time.

It’s not just about congestion and pollution.

It is widely acknowledged that the vast majority of people in our society do not have enough physical activity in their lives. With the massive shift to working from home, this is likely to get worse. The World Health Organisation recommendation for physical activity for adults state that ‘all adults should undertake 150–300 min of moderate-intensity…per week’. That’s a minimum of just 30 minutes a day, five days a week, and cycling is ideal for it. 30 minutes on a bike is enough to cycle the children to school, or to nip to the shops at lunch time, or visit a friend.

It is still women doing the majority of the childcare in our society. When women are enabled to use bikes as transport with their children (as they do in places like Copenhagen) they instil in those children a sense that physical activity is part of normal daily life. This attitude has the potential to transform the health of future generations.

Time To Listen

The Sustrans report is great. But in the two and a half years since it was published, has anything really changed?

One glimmer of hope in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic was the announcement of funding for infrastructure to support active travel. Finally, there was funding and a demonstrated demand for cycling as transport. I looked forward to the transformation of our school run by bike because, surely routes to school had to be a priority for Spaces For People?

We got cones.

Nothing about our school run by bike became safer with Spaces For People. There were some cones immediately outside the school entrance which prevented parking there, and a residential road closed at the back of the school which prevented parking there. So, that was the final 10 metres better – what about the other mile and a half?

NOTHING.

Nothing on the main roads. Nothing on the direct routes. Nothing passing the other school on our route.

NOTHING WHICH WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT ALREADY CYCLE.

It is time to listen to what women want. What will really allow them to choose.

This is hard to do, because women who do not view cycling as something for them tend not to respond to consultations about cycling.

I feel I have some right to state what women want, as I have done above. Being known as ‘that woman with the bike’ other mum’s in the playground speak to me about cycling. The novice and new cyclists who come on my Breeze rides speak to me. Through working with the School Travel Action Group on the School Travel Plan for our school, we spoke to people who do not cycle.

But ultimately, it’s not me that planners need to speak to, it is the women who are not cycling.

The people ranting on social media – both for and against cycling infrastructure – are not the people who need to be heard. Frankly, they are sometimes the people who really need to take a moment and be quiet to allow other voices to speak. Funnily enough, much of the Twitter-ranting also seems to be men…

We already know – because survey after survey has shown it – that women want proper infrastructure for active travel, including cycling. We know this, but the people who are responsible for transport policies locally and nationally have still not really listened. We know this because we are still getting projects which enable nothing.

Did I already mention this…

……IF A FIVE YEAR OLD CANNOT RIDE IT ON THEIR OWN BIKE, THEN IT’S NOT A CYCLE ROUTE.

As for the people who should be listening, we need more women there too. We need more women planners, more women working in the transport sector. I cannot state this better than Daisy Narayanan does. in her article, ‘cities that are designed for women are designed for everyone’.

Now Is The Time

Listening must be just the start.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives. It has forced people to reassess their lives, including their travel habits. 2020 showed very clearly that many women do want to cycle. 2021 is already showing very clearly that they are unable to do so unless they feel safe from the dangers of motorists.

Again, I cannot put it better than Daisy Narayanan does:

Cities that are designed for women are designed for everyone.