Data reveals over 41% of women in the UK state safety concerns and vulnerability of cycling alone as their main concerns for cycling
42% of women in the UK do not feel confident riding a bike on UK roads
Almost half of women in the UK (45%) stated that well-lit walk and cycle lanes would encourage them to use alternative sustainable transport such as bikes, cargo bikes and e-bikes,
Laka launches a new campaign to encourage more women to cycle and to support them in their journey
Laka (www.laka.co), the award-winning insurer of cyclists, and creator of an innovative collective insurance model that has disrupted the consumer cycle insurance market, has today unveiled the results of an independent nationwide survey* that it has commissioned, to explore the barriers preventing more women from cycling.
The key highlights from the results show that over 41% of women in the UK state safety concerns and vulnerability of cycling alone as their main concerns for cycling. Over a third are concerned about other road users and 42% do not feel confident riding a bike on UK roads.
The survey was completed by over 2,000 female and male UK residents aged 16+ and encompasses both cyclists and non-cyclists. The survey also investigated areas that would encourage more people to use alternative sustainable transport such as bikes, cargo bikes and e-bikes, with nearly half of females (45%) stating that well-lit walk and cycle lanes would be the solution.
In addition, the survey reveals that despite our general desire to adopt greener, more environmentally friendly modes of transport (over 63% believe their travel choices are affected either always or sometimes by the impact of the environment), several important barriers remain to our wholesale adoption of these greener modes of transport.
Findings of the research include:
Only 48.34% of women surveyed owns a bike
Over 42% of women nationwide do not feel confident riding a bike on roads
13% of women are unable to ride a bike
When it comes to their travel priorities, the main considerations for women are ease of travel (43%); time taken to travel (42%); cost (42%) and safety (42 %), whilst only 14% stated that they would consider their impact on the environment when choosing their method of transport.
However, over 36% of women in the survey stated they are more likely to change their primary modes of transport post COVID. So, what factors would increase the likelihood of their possible switch to more sustainable transport such as bikes and e-bikes? According to the survey, key motivators for change would be:
Well-lit walk and cycle lanes (45%)
Increased infrastructure (21%)
Government grants (27%)
These point to further, substantial investment in cycling safety and infrastructure at a local and national level, to ensure sustainable travel options also tick the boxes when it comes to safety and practicality, whilst the idea of grants suggests there might be more to come from incentive-led schemes like Bike 2 Work. What is sure is that there is room for growth in cycling as a means of transport, as currently only around one in five of us regularly rides a bike.
According to Tobias Taupitz, CEO of Laka, “Whilst Covid has made many of us more introspective about our role in the environment and our lives in general, these will only be adopted in volume when women’s concerns about safety and facilities are properly addressed, as well as perceived barriers in terms of time and cost. The survey also shows that we are not averse to proactive financial incentives to get us motivated to explore greener methods of travel such as cycling. As cycle insurers, we are only too aware of the issues around women’s cycle safety especially in urban areas and are keen to support any initiatives that make cycle commutes safer.”
Kelly Barnes, CMO of Laka added, “Here at Laka we believe that breaking down these barriers to get women on their bikes is the easiest ride to a greener future, that’s why we’ve launched our Greener Cities Through Women Cycling Campaign, focusing on women’s cycling to help people jump back onto a bike or onto one for the first time”.
Laka’s collective-driven insurance model has revolutionised the traditional cycle insurance market. It provides cyclists with a fairer, more cost-effective, more cycle-centric way of protecting themselves in the event of theft, accident or injury. Its products have been designed from the bottom up by cyclists and it is this fundamental understanding of the DNA of the diverse ‘tribes’ of the cycle community that has inspired the creation of a whole new way of approaching insurance.
At Laka, the three time winners of the Best Cycle Insurer Award, out go complex contract clauses, painful excesses, and labyrinthine claims processes. In comes the collective sharing of claims costs, based on occurring incidents and accidents, not speculation on their occurrence, as is the traditional insurance model, and simple, user-friendly processes and a knowledgeable, helpful service team.
For further information about Laka’s Greener Cities Through Women Cycling campaign and to read advice and experiences from women, check out the Laka website at laka.co/gb/womens-cycling.
