Author Topic: What is stopping women cycling?  (Read 8862 times)

What is stopping women cycling?
« on: 21 January, 2018, 10:33:52 am »
What is stopping women cycling? 

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The bicycle was once a symbol of women's emancipation, with suffragettes taking to two wheels to spread their message of equal rights. But the latest figures show a big gender divide when it comes to cycling. Why?

About 50% fewer women than men cycle twice a week or more, according to transport charity Sustrans, and when it comes to cycling on the roads, the number drops again.

Commonly cited reasons for shunning the benefits of getting into the saddle include sexual harassment, fears about appearance and concerns about safety. So what can be done to get more women on their bikes and out on the road?


The changing face of cycling - advice for the female rider
(click to show/hide)

Don't boast of your long rides
Don't cultivate a "bicycle face"
Don't refuse assistance up a hill   
Don't use bicycle slang. Leave that to the boys
Don't go out after dark without a male escort
Don't scratch a match on the seat of your bloomers
Don't appear in public until you have learned to ride well
Don't appear to be up on "records" and "record smashing." That is sporty

 ;D Yeah right! 

Has the Beeb written a good article on cycling this time?


Move Faster and Bake Things

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #1 on: 21 January, 2018, 10:37:07 am »
What is a bicycle face ?
Rust never sleeps

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #2 on: 21 January, 2018, 10:39:58 am »
I've just pinged that link to Mrs hatler and all her cycling buddies. Completely irrelevant in their case (sort of) but there's a few things in there that resonate. They do it find it insufferably tiresome when a male chain-gang goes past and they chorus ever so politely (and patronisingly) "Morning Ladeeeeez".
Rust never sleeps

T42

  • Apprentice geezer
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #3 on: 21 January, 2018, 10:57:02 am »
Must be a UK thing*. Toutes à Paris had over 5000 participants and Toutes à Strasbourg 2500.

*Although maybe not: only 20% of FFCT members are women.
I've dusted off all those old bottles and set them up straight

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #4 on: 21 January, 2018, 11:28:29 am »
What is a bicycle face ?

You have to grimace as if you are making a tremendous effort and suffering accordingly.  It's not gender specific when speaking English.
Move Faster and Bake Things

JennyB

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #5 on: 21 January, 2018, 12:09:09 pm »
What is a bicycle face ?

"Bicycle face": a 19th-century health problem made up to scare women away from biking
Jennifer - Walker of hills

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #6 on: 21 January, 2018, 12:10:00 pm »
I've just pinged that link to Mrs hatler and all her cycling buddies. Completely irrelevant in their case (sort of) but there's a few things in there that resonate. They do it find it insufferably tiresome when a male chain-gang goes past and they chorus ever so politely (and patronisingly) "Morning Ladeeeeez".

There's something about chain gangs. 

I went out with a bunch from York who were definitely running on testosterone.  Altho' next week, to be fair, I went out with another bunch who were much pleasanter.  Both were quite fast and the latter a bit nonplussed about my old steel bike after I'd climbed some hills without getting off ;)

Another chain gang near the wolds did a close-pass on me going the other way.  I guess they didn't pass the word along about an oncoming cyclist.

I was pleased to see the women's tour de France climbing the Tourmalet 2009 - its last year, I think - the crowd was small but very enthusiastic. Sadly this event has had a hard time thanks to the 'Tour de France' owners who jealously guard their own spectacle. 
Move Faster and Bake Things

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #7 on: 21 January, 2018, 12:15:22 pm »
I don't know how many times I was called 'brave' for cycling.
Conditions that are seen to need 'bravery' will deter many, probably women more than men.

British streets are hostile to cyclists; vehicular, assertive 'fast is safe' styles are not for all.

I've been the victim of sexual harassment.

In more cycle-friendly lands the number of male and female cyclists is fairly equal.

Kim

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #8 on: 21 January, 2018, 01:00:05 pm »
What is stopping women cycling?  Cars.  It's the cars.

ian

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #9 on: 21 January, 2018, 01:17:33 pm »
I don't find cycling on the roads appealing. It just takes the few seconds of aggro and aggression on every trip, and that's pretty much guaranteed. My wife will cycle (off-road) with me. She'd never bother on her own, where's the fun in picking up random abuse for being a cyclist and bonus abuse for being a woman?

Anyone who's cycled down CS7 will also tell you it's pretty much an all-boy re-enactment of the TdF, faster, close-passing male cyclists treating it as a competition.

But yeah, the roads, really. If you expect people to do the whole 'vehicular cycling' thing that it's a small self-selecting, mostly male, population that will thrive.

paul851

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #10 on: 21 January, 2018, 03:53:17 pm »
Doesn't seem to be a problem around here , the local women's only  cycling club Queensbury Queens of the Mountain has 114 member and are quite active even though they are based at the top of a hill plus their is also the Yorkshire Lass CC again with over 100 members and their are probably others.
Paul

mattc

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #11 on: 21 January, 2018, 04:06:38 pm »
I don't know how many times I was called 'brave' for cycling.
Conditions that are seen to need 'bravery' will deter many, probably women more than men.

British streets are hostile to cyclists; vehicular, assertive 'fast is safe' styles are not for all.

I've been the victim of sexual harassment.

In more cycle-friendly lands the number of male and female cyclists is fairly equal.
I frequently get called 'brave' for cycling [to work].  I get ribald remarks about wearing lycra [even by people who don't see me in lycra]. Every few decades I get knocked off and go to hospital for some stitiches.*

Iz it becoz I iz male?


*The sliver lining to this incident was a massive reduciton in workplace "bantz" about knocking me off as they drive home.
**Some edits @1759h for claridee.
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #12 on: 21 January, 2018, 04:10:33 pm »
Sport & leisure cycling is not the same as utility cycling.

Women are deterred from utility cycling hereabouts, in a different Queensbury.

Kim

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #13 on: 21 January, 2018, 04:24:25 pm »
Sport & leisure cycling is not the same as utility cycling.

Indeed.  It tends to be done in places where exposure to many of the deterring factors (bad driving, harassment) are greatly reduced, and often by people who are fit enough to be able to reduce their speed differential with motor traffic to a more acceptable level.

And those who can't reasonably achieve these things generally aren't the ones who are doing it.  Serious female cyclists are - just like the men - the ones who cycle in spite of the above factors.  I've met a lot of female cyclists  who are perfectly happy to pootle round the lanes or thrash round the trails with their group, but wouldn't dream of cycling to work.


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Women are deterred from utility cycling hereabouts, in a different Queensbury.

Quite.  The ones that aren't tend to be either sporty, or unusually bloodyminded.  Neither of which should be a requirement to ride a bike to the shops.

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #14 on: 21 January, 2018, 04:34:42 pm »
I STILL claim I was the last woman to cycle up Stag Lane regularly and I think I stopped cycling in 2001.

Gattopardo

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #15 on: 22 January, 2018, 01:11:53 am »
I STILL claim I was the last woman to cycle up Stag Lane regularly and I think I stopped cycling in 2001.

Posthumous strava queen of the mountain? :-*

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #16 on: 22 January, 2018, 01:25:02 am »
I STILL claim I was the last woman to cycle up Stag Lane regularly and I think I stopped cycling in 2001.

Posthumous strava queen of the mountain? :-*

Blimey! Helly aten't dead yet ...

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #17 on: 22 January, 2018, 02:26:09 am »
I STILL claim I was the last woman to cycle up Stag Lane regularly and I think I stopped cycling in 2001.

Posthumous strava queen of the mountain? :-*

Blimey! Helly aten't dead yet ...

Over the hill and round the bend however...
(Altitude 62m, just past 'summit of 64m, 'just where the road straightens out...'

arabella

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #18 on: 22 January, 2018, 09:27:40 pm »
Lack of mechanical know-how seems to be more problematic en velo than en voiture, possibly due to lower likelihood of knowledgeable passerby (not to be confused with passing axe murderer & friends) and lack of AA/RAC cycling version.  (Mayhap AA/RAC should extend the cover to cycled journeys "you're the member not the vehicle ...?")
Any fool can admire a mountain.  It takes real discernment to appreciate the fens.

Kim

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #19 on: 22 January, 2018, 09:49:50 pm »
Lack of mechanical know-how seems to be more problematic en velo than en voiture, possibly due to lower likelihood of knowledgeable passerby (not to be confused with passing axe murderer & friends) and lack of AA/RAC cycling version.  (Mayhap AA/RAC should extend the cover to cycled journeys "you're the member not the vehicle ...?")

I dunno.  If we assume the average cycle journey is less than 5km, then it's not really that a big deal.  Push it home; phone a friend; lock the bike up; get a taxi; take the Brommie on the bus; invoke the local Bike Man Dan or whatever are all reasonable strategies, especially if combined with a bike that's configured for reliability (Marathon Plus, hub gears, that sort of thing).

I accept that I don't really have first hand experience of this one - though it is something I've worked through strategies for with people I've encouraged to cycle.  I'm a competent enough fettler that all but the most catastrophic mechanical problems don't really scare me, and I've always reckoned that I'm probably one of the axe murderers[1].  It's body failure that I worry about more (particularly if I'm a long way from civilisation).

There are bike rescue services.  Maybe, along with mobile bike mechanics, they're worth making a bit more noise about to newbie cyclists?

Like 'hills' and 'weather' I'm not convinced it's as much of a barrier to transport cycling as it is a convenient excuse for car use.  It may be more of a barrier to sport/leisure cycling.


[1] More seriously, I consider cycling to be a net personal safety win.  I'd rather cycle through a nonspecifically dodgy area than hang around a bus station.

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #20 on: 22 January, 2018, 10:13:36 pm »
Quote
In more cycle-friendly lands the number of male and female cyclists is fairly equal.

Where is that?

On the local hike and bike trail yesterday - 17 miles - I would say about one in every ten cyclist were female. On the roads there are very few cyclists of any sex but in the forthcoming MS150 - 13,000 riders with police and marshals shepherding the cyclists - about 15% will be women if past numbers are replicated. I think it must be a male thing to flirt with danger on the roads with women showing more sense and staying away.

But, it is the roads, for either sex. Motorists have made being on the road as a cyclist or pedestrian a very dangerous exercise supported for the most part by a very cavalier attitude exhibited by the police and judiciary towards offenders.

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #21 on: 22 January, 2018, 10:19:18 pm »
What is stopping women cycling?  Cars.  It's the cars.

Yes.

This is a relevant read: Why doesn't population X cycle?.

Discussion of sports cycling club culture, while relevant to the tiny proportion of us who do that sort of thing, is a distraction from the obvious reason why more women (and men and girls and boys) don't cycle.

It's not a coincidence that the places with the highest proportion of women who ride bikes are in the Netherlands and Denmark (>50%).

hellymedic

  • Just do it!
Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #22 on: 22 January, 2018, 10:24:43 pm »
I think women would be happier to tackle mechanical issues if the were not patronised by fellow riders and shop workers.

I am moderately competent mechanically and have been fed bollux by some shop workers and 'helpful' but useless advice from other riders.

This would be demoralising for a more sensitive soul.

I think the women and mechanical aptitude issue become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 'Women can't do math [sic], women can't read maps, women can't fix bikes.'

[OT-ish] I used my Leatherman for something yesterday and remembered I'd bought it as a present for myself, for my 20th birthday. I've had it for nearly forty years...

Kim

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Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #23 on: 22 January, 2018, 10:43:46 pm »
Agree with that (though to reiterate, I don't think it's actually much of a barrier to cycling - plenty of acomplished male cyclists demonstrate a shocking lack of what I'd consider to be basic mechanical skills).

The internet's brilliant in that respect.  I've learned pretty much everything I know about bicycle mechanics[1] from Sheldon Brown and YACF.  There's still an element of bollocks to wade through, but much less patronisation or vulnerability.  But I'm fortunate enough that as a child I was encouraged by parents and a few good teachers to take an interest in SCIENCE; I've never really believed that being female is in itself a barrier to doing technical things; and I'm one of the minority who doesn't give a crap[2] about what people think about me for doing so.  I was privileged enough to go into it with the assumption that if I could build a computer, I could probably learn to adjust my gears.

(I think I've had my SAK for about 24 years now.  Continuing the general theme, many thanks to Charlotte OTP for encouraging me to learn how to sharpen it and give it a new lease of life.)



[1] My brother and I learned incompetent puncture repair from my dad.  It got us back on the road (well bridleway) most of the time.
[2] In this respect, women cycling is a bit like women in STEM.  The ones who succeed aren't representative of the population as a whole.

Re: What is stopping women cycling?
« Reply #24 on: 22 January, 2018, 11:30:46 pm »
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[2] In this respect, women cycling is a bit like women in STEM.  The ones who succeed aren't representative of the population as a whole.

And of course, that could be said about any profession or vocation or skill.