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9 Sep 2024

Demand for bikes has soared following Britain’s strong performance in the Olympic cycling events in Paris, new research suggests.

3 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August 2024. The report, which can be downloaded here, has highlighted: 

28 Aug 2024

Bikmo, a leading cycling insurtech, and the Association of Cycle Traders (ACT), the UK’s largest and most established cycle trade membership organisation, have announced they are entering...

28 Aug 2024

E-Bike Positive, a new initiative with support from across the cycling industry, is set to equip the public with the information needed to buy safe, ride safe and charge safe while promoting and...

28 Aug 2024

Cycling Weekly has reported independent bike shops across the country continuing the call for reform of the Cycle to Work schemes in their current format and encouraged the government to help...

28 Aug 2024

A £1.5m project to refurbish a walking and cycling route in Coventry has been completed.

28 Aug 2024

The Bira Conference - hosted by ACT's parent company - will take place on Wednesday 16th October at One Great George Street, London.

28 Aug 2024

A Norwich cycle shop is offering commuters the chance to turn their regular pedal bikes into high tech e-bikes.

28 Aug 2024

The transport secretary Louise Haigh has been urged to turn her recent statement that she wants ‘unprecedented levels’ of investment in cycling into firm spending commitments in the...

12 Aug 2024

The shortlisted nominees for the BikeBiz Awards 2024, in association with Push have been announced.

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New study suggests 90% of women are put off cycling by common barriers.

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

New research from Lime entitled “Tackling the Gender Pedal Gap” has most women facing barriers to cycling, including poorly lit streets and isolated routes. The report claims that women in the UK are cycling almost half as much as men every month because of this.

Sepia cyclist

Anti-social behaviour (36%) and fear of harassment from other road users (34%) were also listed as major deterrents for female cyclists. Only one in five women said they felt safe cycling alone at night and four times as many women as men (82%) said they view cars as a safer transport option when it’s dark.

The report also explored the changes women want on the roads to improve a sense of personal safety when cycling after dark. These included more dedicated cycle lanes, better-lit parking areas to finish their cycle and more parking areas near their homes.

Lime’s public affairs manager, Alice Pleasant, said the report identifies “substantial barriers” for women accessing cycling as a transport option, particularly at night: “We’re calling for solutions in three areas: infrastructure, integration with public transport and innovation.” 

The Tackling the Gender Pedal Gap report lists five recommendations to improve women’s experiences of cycling:

  • The government and local authorities should build upon existing work to deliver more cycling infrastructure and parking bays.
  • Local authorities should also ensure there is street lighting on popular cycling routes and around parking bays.
  • The government should work with local authorities and charities to introduce cycling lessons or refresher courses in secondary schools.
  • Transport and mapping applications should introduce a feature to show well-lit routes home for cycling, with 66% of female cyclists saying they’d feel safer with this kind of map feature.
  • Lime will explore new product features to improve personal safety, such as a ‘Follow My Ride’ feature which would allow women to share their cycle journey with loved ones.

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