Sustrans’ Children’s Walking and Cycling Index finds girls are being left behind when it comes to cycling, despite over half of children wanting to cycle more.
Children’s voices must be factored into transport decisions to make it work for all. Photo credit: Jonathan Bewley
Almost half the number of girls (17%) cycle five or more times weekly compared to boys (28%), according to our Children’s Walking and Cycling Index, sponsored by Halfords.
The worrying gender gap means fewer girls are likely to either start or continue cycling as they grow up. This deprives them of the benefits cycling brings including:
- Improved health.
- Economic and education opportunities.
- Access to nature.
Lily is a secondary school girl from Swansea, shares why she no longer cycles. Photo Credit: Michael Drummond Photography.
Lily, a secondary school girl from Swansea, shared why she no longer cycles:
"I did have a bike and I used to cycle around my neighbourhood and parks, but I grew out of it. I think many girls my age don't really tend to cycle or use bikes. It's not really seen as cool and we can be quite self-conscious about that.
"I think this is because our clothes don't really allow us, especially if we’re wearing skirts, and it seems a lot of the equipment for cycling is made for men instead of women."
Report sponsors Halfords expressed their concern, with Katie Begley, Head of Trading – Cycling, saying:
"Halfords is addressing the worrying decline in children’s cycling across the UK, a trend driven by factors such as safety concerns, insufficient infrastructure, and limited access to cycling opportunities.
"As a leading cycling retailer, Halfords is committed to initiatives aimed at revitalising youth participation in cycling, making it more accessible and enjoyable for future generations.
"The survey examines the barriers preventing more frequent cycling among children. Through its support of this research, Halfords seeks to highlight the changes required to make cycling safer, encourage greater adoption, and establish it as a central part of childhood.
"Halfords is committed to leveraging these insights to drive meaningful change, enhancing the health and wellbeing of children across the UK."
The report also found children’s views broadly support change for walking and cycling in their local neighbourhood, but only 36% felt enough was being done to help them be healthy.
Sustrans calls for children’s needs to be prioritised when councils are planning transport improvements in their area. Photo credit: Chris Foster
Safer streets for children to be healthy
Sustrans calls for children’s needs to be prioritised when councils are planning transport improvements in their area.
By adding more traffic-free and quiet cycle paths, more children will feel safe to get on their bike, meaning more active lifestyles and a greener local environment.
Transport design that is inclusive for children is safer and more accessible for everyone, opening up opportunities for healthier lives through giving people a real choice about how they make short journeys in their area.
Our report revealed that while most children walk or wheel at least once a week, less than half (48%) of children cycle do so this often.
This is despite over half of children (51%) wanting to cycle more.
Amid an obesity epidemic and an urgent need to reduce pressure on the National Health Service, walking and cycling offers both a prevention and a solution to poor health that is important to the mission of every government in the UK to improve people’s health.
Rachel Toms, Director of Urbanism and UK Programmes at Sustrans said:
"Children want to cycle and expect our leaders to tackle the barriers stopping them. We’re asking local and national policymakers to act on children’s enthusiasm for cycling by making sure they invest in more traffic-free and quiet cycle paths so that more children feel safe to get on their bike and get all the lifestyle and health benefits cycling offers."
"Children’s views on transport are too often overlooked by policymakers.
"We look forward to working with local authorities to improve streets for children, making it safer and more accessible for everyone to get around actively and so we don’t leave girls behind."
The Children’s Index found 81% of children support more traffic-free paths and quiet routes for walking and cycling, and 78% support more cycle paths along roads physically separated from cars.