CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
“GB cyclists front OneInAMillion campaign to boost women’s cycling by 1 million”
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Posted 5 years ago #
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This campaign was discussed on R4 Today this morning, in the sports bulletin slot. They seem confused about whether they're trying to get women involved in sport cycling or everyday cycling.
Posted 5 years ago # -
“They seem confused about whether they're trying to get women involved in sport cycling or everyday cycling.”
Yes, part of the problem with having two major organisations, one mostly about sport the other (previously) concentrating on touring now both wanting to concentrate on some sort of ‘middle ground’ largely created by Sustrans.
All want members/income, though Sustrans (at least in Scotland) is more or less an arms length QUANGO.
There have been times when ‘joining together’ or ‘agreeing on what we all do’ have been tried - sometimes with unwanted levels of animosity.
I get the impression that, these days, there are better levels of mutual acceptance with less strident ‘we need a unified voice for cycling, otherwise no one will take us seriously/pay attention/take action’.
I have always thought that was not a realistic view. I’m sure civil servants and politicians have often said ‘why don’t you all work together it would be so much easier (FOR US)’.
Bet it’s seldom been said ‘if only the AA, RAC & IAM would merge’...
Chris Boardman is probably more effective in his current job because of his sporting background and consequent profile. But he also understands that it’s about getting people to ride bikes, not hoping to be able to identify the next racing champion.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Cycle Sprog says everything I want to say and says it better:
http://www.cyclesprog.co.uk/blog/cycling-with-kids-one-in-a-million/Sample quote:
"We need to get to a position where mums who choose to cycle their children to school don't feel like one in a million for the wrong reasons. Where they aren't called "brave" or "foolish" or worse for cycling with their kids. Where they don't get trolled online or sworn at in front of their children. Where they don't end up retreating back into their cars with the other 999,999."Posted 5 years ago # -
@fimm - that's very good.
"There is a huge elephant in the room that the video fails to address. When you look at the film you'll see there isn't a single point at which someone is cycling near a moving vehicle. There are a few parked cars in the background, and that's it.
The cycling is being done at weekends and on holidays. It's cycling for enjoyment and for sport. It's cycling for those who have cars and can drive to a safe, traffic free environment (or are lucky enough to already live there).
It's not girls cycling to school. It's not families cycling to get the groceries, or going to a birthday party. It's not busy mothers cycling to drop one child at nursery and another at school before going onto work."
Posted 5 years ago # -
@chdot - Walk Cycle Vote has been the result of getting together and agreeing what 'we' all want (including both Sustrans and British Cycling in the form of Scottish Cycling). I think it's been fairly effective at making sure we get a consistent message across and nobody undercuts each other by asking for less. Sometimes it's been hard to get the UK head offices to remember that and some rather unambitious 'asks' sneak north of the border though ...
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks Sally.
I think I once knew that.
Is SC involved in the BC initiative?
Was WCV involved in the planning?
Posted 5 years ago # -
@Fimm @Rosie
No cars, everyone helmeted and with lycra on. Maybe one step through frame, one trike. So only sport message seems to get through.
You could almost put an Evans logo on it and sell kit from it.
I like seeing people on any type of bike but the 'personal best' approach will turn off many. For some the joy of cycling is going places for a reason with friends (I think). For others it's going out on your own to escape (but that's not so likely if you are nervous about traffic).Talking about Bolivia is all very well... nice for ad agency of course.
Lee Craigie has the Adventure Syndicate - sure she could get something produced that would hit the spot better for riders in our locale.
That ad is way too corporate - ticking some boxes and actively saying that female cycling is a rare activity (!)@sallyhinch - WCV makes a better case and has a much better idea of inclusuon rather than cyclists and pedestrians being in tribes. (see optimistic thread by @harts cyclery).
Posted 5 years ago # -
@chdot - no idea if Scottish Cycling were involved. Certainly I hadn't heard anything about the campaign until it hit Twitter this morning.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Thanks.
And mmm.
Posted 5 years ago # -
This is a bit more positive from Dame Sarah Storey:
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/news/article/20190205-womens-cycling-Dame-Sarah-Storey--Build-bike-lanes-fit-for-everyone--not-just-the-brave-0"The reasons ... are quite clear: over two thirds of women believe that it is too dangerous for them to cycle on the roads, with most citing driver behaviour and inadequate cycle lanes and infrastructure as the main hazards deterring them.
“What these barriers also tell us is that painted, poor quality cycle lanes on the road simply won’t cut it. We have to stop creating cycle lanes that are too narrow, poorly maintained and disconnected from other routes."
Posted 5 years ago #
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