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.”
Who is Will Norman?
If you went out onto the street and asked most Londoners who Will Norman was, I doubt many would have a clue. While some have very strong views on Sadiq Khan, Norman might evoke the reaction “who?” I tested this theory on a plumber this morning - he and I had a long chat about politics the same time last year when he inspected my boiler - who indeed had…
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:
Psy-clists on the pavement are a major problem on my commute to work. When I have taken footage to be sent to the police, I receive a lot of commentary similar to the below. The pavement needs to be safe for everyone and made free from psy-clists.
A further consideration is that motorbikes and motorscooters are following suit by riding on the pavement. I regularly see this on my walk to work. Note that I work in a hospital and regularly see pedestrians who have been hit by or sideswiped by cyclists.
Is this how you spend your free time, Charlotte? Taking grainy photos of people on cycles?