No lycra in sight: Why more women aren't cycling or walking
With a basket on the front of her bicycle and two daughters and school bags weighing down the back, Melissa Derwent cops "surprised looks" as she pedals up and down the steep hills of suburban Oatley to school drop off before starting her commute.Melissa Derwent with her daughters, Sophie, 7, and Natalie, 4, riding their electric cargo bike in Oatley, NSW."There is no bike infrastructure in the suburbs, and you definitely stand out. You are not a middle-aged man in Lycra.
On Wednesday, the Amy Gillett Foundation also released results of a survey that found 90 per cent of Australians agreed more needed to be spent on temporary bike lanes. Cr Moore said breaking down the perception, safety and access barriers that were stopping women from riding to work, schools and local businesses, would create "connected active transport infrastructure" for everyone.
Melissa Derwent says she would feel safer if there were more dedicated bike paths and lanes near her.Stephen Hodge, the director of national advocacy WeRide, described women as the "canary in the coalmine" for cycling. "When the cycling environment is safe, convenient, attractive and direct, then women will choose to cycle for their short daily trips in large numbers," he said. When they feel safe, they will encourage their children to cycle or walk to school.
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