Skip to content

Cyclists' campaign to fix the gender pedal gap

Martin HeathBuckinghamshire political reporter
News imageMartin Heath/BBC Jane Whild is outdoors in front of a red-brick building with large windows. She is wearing a dark zip-up jacket and a clip-on microphone attached to a dark top. Ornamental grasses and shrubs are visible beside a walkway in the background. A sign on the building reads “Christodoulou Meeting Rooms.”Martin Heath/BBC
Jane Whild said some women did not have the time or the money to take up cycling

Campaigners say more needs to be done to encourage women to take up cycling.

The Gender Pedal Gap Taskforce, an initiative set up in Milton Keynes, said only one in four of the bikers they surveyed on the city's cycle routes were women.

Concerns about safety and a lack of time for leisure activities are believed to be among the reasons for the disparity.

The issue was highlighted at an all-day cycle summit in Milton Keynes on Thursday, where senior councillors were asked to commit to working harder to combat the problem.

The Cycling Citizens MK group, which set up the taskforce, surveyed people about the Milton Keynes Redways, which are paths designed for cyclists and pedestrians.

Only 23% of the people they observed on bicycles were women.

A third of the female cyclists were worried about road collisions and a fifth were concerned about stranger danger, the group said.

Jane Whild, the co-founder of the taskforce, said women might also "have more caring responsibilities and less time to spend on leisure [and] less funding because of the gender pay gap".

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Hayley Roche stands indoors beside a cycling promotion display board. The display features photos of cyclists and a large red sign reading “RIDE BIKES HAVE FUN FEEL GOOD.” Roche is wearing a black lace top and black sleeveless jacket. Blue wall panels and a safety notice are visible in the background.Martin Heath/BBC
Hayley Roche said increasing the number of cyclists on the Redways would mean the routes ultimately felt safer

Hayley Roche, the programme manager for active and sustainable transport at Milton Keynes City Council, said: "The Redways are fantastic, but sometimes people might be worried about surveillance in underpasses, so there's work we can do in terms of maintenance to make them feel a little bit safer.

"If we could get more people out on the Redways, they would feel safer as well - it's safety in numbers."

News imageMartin Heath/BBC Ann Shrimpton stands outside a brick-built office or meeting venue beside a glass entrance with metal handrails. She is wearing blue-framed glasses, a dark brown top and a clip-on microphone. Large windows reflect the surrounding area, and fallen leaves can be seen on the ground near the building entrance.Martin Heath/BBC
Ann Shrimpton said the council had made real commitments to improving the network

Ann Shrimpton, the co-chairwoman of Cycling Citizens MK, said the summit - which took place at The Open University - was a chance to get attention from people in power.

"What we've had today from the council and from the power holders in the council is real firm commitments to improving the network," she explained.

"Both in terms of investment in the network but also in terms of how we plan and design that network to take into account the needs of all users - particularly women."

Whild added: "We'll have another of these summits next year and we will invite these power holders back and we will hold them to account."

News imageMartin Heath/BBC People sit around tables at a public meeting or workshop in a large conference room. At the front, a speaker stands with a microphone addressing attendees, while several panel members are seated on a stage behind. A presentation screen is visible showing the name “James Caincross, Head of Landscape Architecture, The Parks Trust.” Blue chairs, tables with papers and drinks, and a lectern can be seen throughout the room.Martin Heath/BBC
The summit brought campaigners and politicians together

Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links