Cycling can benefit physical and mental wellbeing as well as reduce social and economic inequity. Sadly, there is a huge gender and diversity gap amongst cyclists in the UK. Report prepared by Sustrans shows that only 12% of women cycle once a week and 73% of women never ride a bicycle. Numbers for ethnic minority groups are similarly worrying, showing 74% of people from ethnic minority groups do not cycle due to the range of environmental and cultural barriers.
When demographic groups like women and minority groups are excluded from participating in an active travel options it can reduce their rights and freedoms. In order to address these barriers, Sustrans went a step further and published a guide for inclusive cycling in cities and towns designed to support people in local government and the transport sector including designers, planners, engineers in creating and delivering more inclusive cycling infrastructure. The guide urges the need for improvements in planning for more marginalised groups and highlights recommendations, which aim to help to work towards reducing inequalities within cycling.
The guide is free and downloadable here:
Cycling for everyone. A guide for inclusive cycling in cities and towns
