‘If there aren’t as many women cycling as men … you need better infrastructure’
London is not alone in lacking gender parity in cycling. Sustainable transport consultant Alix Stredwick quotes 2008 research by the Department for Transport showing that UK-wide, women make 27% of cycle journeys, just ahead of the US at 25%, but below Canada at 30% – and in a different league entirely to Germany at 49%, and Denmark and the Netherlands, where women cyclists outnumber men at around 55%. In many European cities, cycling is also a pursuit for all ages – unlike in UK cities, where it is mainly the preserve of young, fit and white males.Stredwick says the gender imbalance in London “reflects the hostile road environment for cycling”.
