London transport is designed for men

Diversity isn't our strength when it comes to cycling fanaticism

How many male versus female cyclists are there in London?

I actually have no idea. But whenever I walk around the city, it certainly seems like a lot more men compared to women.

Part of the reason why I notice men more is that cyclists are becoming increasingly obstructive - aggressive even.

Although cycle lanes have expanded substantially, cyclists seem to be riding on the streets more than ever before.

Often I find myself about to be knocked into by either a teenage boy whizzing past, a bloke who looks like he owns several pairs of mountain shoes or male Deliveroo riders wobbling about before they go through a red light.

Yes, women can cycle too, but the city seems to be overwhelmingly based around men’s love of two-wheeled travel.

One thing I - a woman! - would like in London is easy access to affordable taxis. They make me feel safe at night. However, I can’t remember the last time I ordered one due to lack of availability and soaring costs. Thousands of them have gone out of business in the big smoke, in fact, thanks to Sadiq Khan’s war on cars.

On the occasions I have complained about the male-oriented nature of cycling, I get an avalanche of (mostly male) cyclists telling me how cycling is wonderful for all.

Take this Tweet I wrote last year, and the subsequent replies:

“What oceangoing nonsense. Many of the biggest supporters of active travel are women, or men not in the first flush of youth. Some are disabled. But most of the pro-traffic, anti-cycling yobs are young men.”

“Please outline the evidence you have that "young men are some of the biggest advocates of killling off the car industry". Genuinely, this is "news" to me.”

“I disagree with your statement Charlotte. I know a huge amount of women advocating for more active travel alternatives in the city. I’m a mum and cart my kid around by bike, and cycle home at night.”

“Why do the right wing press hate cyclists and cycling? It's not a good position to be in. Something to do with petrol company shares maybe?”

So on Monday, I decided to film cyclists while I walked through London and count the number of male and female cyclists.

A pedantic point

Knowing cyclists - some of the most anally retentive people on earth - I am sure I will be accused of fake news (unlike their incredible “studies” into car use) so I will first of all add my method/ any limitations, as well as a video showing a sample of my “field work”.

Method/ limitations *excuse an even more pedantic section*

I walked from London Bridge to Barbican (approximately 1.6 miles) filming cyclists I saw on the way. While I aimed to film non-stop as much as I could, I paused several times to take photographs of parked Lime Bikes (as I document these on social media) and change my music (I am a fidgety DJ). I tried as best as possible to document every cyclist I could see. I discounted a handful in my study if their gender wasn’t clear-cut. For instance:

Sample video below:

Without further ado, here’s my tally:

Male: 1

Males 2 and 3

Males 4 and 5

Male 6

Male 7

Male 8

Male 9

Male 10

Male 11

Males 12 and 13

Male 14

Male 15

Female 1:

Male 16

Male 17

Male 18

Female 2

Male 19

Male 20

Male 21

Male 22, Female 3

Males 23 and 24

Male 25

Male 26

Male 27

Male 28

Males 29 and 30 (father and son)

Male 31

Male 32

Male 33

Female 4

Male 34

Female 5

Male 35

Female 6

Male 36

Male 37

Male 38

Female 7

Male 39

Male 40, Female 8

Male 41

Male 42

Male 43, Female 9

Male 44

Male 45

Female 10

Male 46

Males 47 and 48

Male 49

Female 11

Male 50

Male 51

Male 52

Male 53

Male 54

Male 55

Male 56 and 57

Male 58

Male 59

Male 60

Male 61

Male 62

Male 63

Male 64

Male 65

Male 66

Male 67

Male 68, female 12

Male 69

Male 70

Male 71

Female 13

Male 72

In total, I counted 72 males and 13 females.

Why does this bother me?

In general it seems to me that London transport fails at most tests of inclusivity, and is overwhelmingly now geared towards male able-bodied cyclists. *I even found it interesting that several of the women in my sample were not independent cyclists, but accompanied by males.*

Blind and disabled people, for instance, are struggling because of “floating bus stops” (see below):

There are also very limited resources - e.g. lift access - for wheelchair/ mobility scooter users and parents/ carers using buggies.

Moreover, it’s becoming harder for people in mobility scooters/ wheelchairs/ otherwise and with buggies to get past due to the growing number of cyclists who dump their hire-bikes in the street:

Here is my friend struggling to get past with her buggy:

Will Norman, the Walking and Cycling Commissioner, has spent a colossal amount on expanding cycle lanes:

He constantly tells us he’s “making London a greener safer & healthier city for all.”

But London now feels like a playground for middle-aged men on their bikes.

Let’s just say, none of my footage looks what London leaders pretend it is: