March 27, 2021 - The UK’s cycling infrastructure to encourage safe cycling can learn a lot from smart new measures in Paris and Lisbon that indicate that change is long overdue reports the Guardian.
Evidence shows that women are more likely to cycle than men when there is supportive cycling infrastructure in place, such as bike lanes that are well-lit and fully separated from traffic, and safe routes that facilitate diverse journeys (not simply commuting from the outer to inner city).
The 2019 Sustrans Bike Life survey found that 76% of women in the UK never cycle and only 9% of women cycle regularly, compared to 21% of men. The survey also found that 36% of women who do not cycle would like to start and concern about danger from traffic was the main reason for non-participation.
Yet in the Netherlands and Copenhagen, 55% of journeys by bike are made by women. In Paris and Lisbon, the number of female cyclists has increased with recent investment in protected bike lanes and other measures.
Read the full article here.
