Women don’t ride bikes as much as men. Until now, we did not have data to allow us to analyze the whys. This is what changes the publication of a pioneering study in Spain called “Cycling Mobility and Gender”, led by the Women’s Institute in collaboration with ConBici (Spanish Coordinator in Defense of the Bicycle) and the Punt 6 Collective, presented yesterday in Conama (National Environmental Congress).
Work is an invitation to rethink mobility from a perspective that takes into account the needs of women. To this end, six discussion groups have been interviewed with citizens from different provinces and autonomous communities: Almansa (Albacete), Alaquás (Valencia), Bilbao (Basque Country), Vic (Catalonia), Vigo (Galicia) and Pamplona (Navarra). In addition, 2,235 people from different population centers were surveyed.
The report reveals a compelling truth: women face barriers that limit their access to and use of bicycles. While 81% of men surveyed use it, only 64% of women do it. This imbalance reflects infrastructure issues, but also deep-rooted social dynamics.
For example, 49% of women who do not use bicycles indicated road and sexual harassment as one of the main barriers, a figure that rises to 62% among LGBTI women. Furthermore, the 45% of female cyclists have experienced harassment verbal or physical. Again, this percentage is higher among LGBTI women (63%), migrants (61%) and single-parent families (50%). The analysis also reveals that 9% of women do not pedal because they have dependent persons in charge (children or older people), compared to 3% of men.
Regarding infrastructure, the women identified various difficulties on their routes. Mainly, they highlighted the speed of cars, the scarcity and narrowness of bike laneswhich do not allow circulation at different paces and do not connect spaces linked to education, health or care.
In the cities, the debate also focused on the feeling of road insecurity felt by cyclists. Women are more afraid of being run overfalling, theft, harassment and the minors in their care also suffering from these situations.
Voices from the asphalt
In Vigo, the seven women who participated in the workshop pointed out the speed of traffic and the lack of safe bike lanes as recurring obstacles. In the words of one of them: «Riding a bike with children is a challenge, especially in a city that does not prioritize us». Along these lines, non-cycling women choose road or personal “insecurity” as the number one reason for not being users. Furthermore, 51% of women perceive insecurity about electric scooters, compared to 35% of men.
In Vic, the debate revolved around rural connections. The participants highlighted the need to transportation infrastructure that connects municipalities and promote safer journeys. However, they also spoke of the feeling of personal freedom and autonomy that the bicycle offers them, a recurring echo in all the regions studied.
Finally, the study identifies some measures to take to promote sustainable mobility and the adoption of bicycles among women. From rethinking infrastructure (expanding the traffic-protected cycling network, public bicycle services, bike parking, lighting and improving intermodality) to campaigns to prevent road harassment and cycling training, as well as supporting public transport plans. Work or approve tax measures to encourage the purchase and use of bicycles.