Why Don’t Women Cycle? Rachel Aldred

The Gender (and Age) Gap Source: DfT (2016) National Propensity to Cycle Tool Stage 1 Report, Appendix 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-propensity-to-cycle-first-phase-development-study . NTS (England) analysis by Anna Goodman.

To Summarise Large inequalities by gender and age E.g. cycling’s mode share among urban boys is nearly 3x more than it is for urban girls E.g. cycling’s commute mode share for urban men aged 40-49 is 3x more than for urban women aged 40-49 E.g. cycling’s mode share for male commuters aged 60+ is half that for male commuters aged 40-49

For comparison: the Netherlands Source: DfT (2016) National Propensity to Cycle Tool Stage 1 Report, Appendix 8 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-propensity-to-cycle-first-phase-development-study . NTS analysis by Anna Goodman.

In the Netherlands Everyone cycles a lot more, and those inequalities disappear or are reversed… E.g. cycling’s mode share among urban boys is similar to that for urban girls E.g. cycling’s commute mode share for urban men aged 40-49 is somewhat lower than for urban women aged 40-49 E.g. cycling’s mode share for male commuters aged 60+ is somewhat higher than for male commuters aged 40-49

Explaining Dutch patterns Cycling very popular among under 16’s Cycling rates decline among young adults in all groups (first car effect?) After that, gentle return to cycling over the life course At all ages, women if anything cycle somewhat more than men Reasons might include: lower car ownership, shorter trip lengths, lower income, more trip chaining, more likely to be making escort trips e.g. with children…

What about us? UK inequalities Unequal by design? Our child cycling rates are especially pitiful (around 2% vs around 40% in NL) Where commuter cycling has risen between 2001-11, gender inequalities have been maintained and age inequalities have risen (Aldred et al 2016) Source: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2015.1014451

Infrastructure and Gender Source: systematic review by Aldred et al 2017, forthcoming in Transport Reviews, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01441647.2016.1200156

It’s All Connected Vicious circle Virtuous circle? Having to cycle with busy or fast motor traffic is particularly off-putting to women (as is the image of ‘a cyclist’ prevalent in such contexts) But women are also less likely to cycle longer trips than men – so where quieter routes involve long detours, this is additionally off-putting The Netherlands suggests women’s trips and habits (e.g. shorter trips, fewer cars) may actually make them more ‘natural’ cyclists than men If we can get the cycling environment right, image and experience will reinforce cycling as for all ages and genders Signalling cycling is mainstream, valued, normal and safe likely to be especially important for under-represented groups

Hopeful Signs Source: Aldred, R. and Dales, J. in press, Journal of Transport and Health

Why Don’t Women Cycle? Rachel Aldred