Since its invention, cycling has been a source of freedom for ordinary working people, for the rural poor and for women. As Susan B. Anthony said in 1896, the bicycle is a freedom machine that “has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.[i]” Affordable and accessible, the humble bike has made people’s lives easier, more exciting and healthier. Yet today, it is too often associated with ‘MAMILs’ – (white, affluent, able bodied) middle aged men in lycra, and many people are excluded from the benefits of cycling. Many of our friends, family and neighbours across Newcastle say they would cycle, if only. Why?
Who is Excluded from Cycling?
- Poor People
Poor people are less likely to cycle than rich people. Despite it being an affordable way to travel! People on low incomes are less likely to be able toafford to buy or rent a bike, less likely to have a safe space to store it, and are likely to live in areas with high traffic levels. The National Travel Attitudes Survey 2023 (NTAS)[ii] showed that 25% of people with less than £15,000 a year had use of a bike, compared to 50% of people with over £50,000. The poor are half as likely to have a bike than the rich.
- Women and Girls
Women and girls are affected more by all of the barriers to cycling, especially safety fears. As a result, only 9% of women cycle once a week, compared to 21% of men cycling at least once a week[iii], and this starts young, with girls less likely to cycle to school than boys[iv]. Women are less than half as likely to cycle than men.
- Ethnic Minorities
People from minority communities on average make a third of the number of cycling trips of white people, cycle only a quarter as far per year, and spend less than a fifth as long on a bike (source: NTAS). While cycling is something that is far from a majority activity amongst white people, it is currently a niche activity for a small minority of people from our ethnic minority communities.
- Older and Disabled people
Barriers to cycling are much worse for people with disabilities and older people. Regular use of a bicycle drops from 48% of people aged 40-60, to 39% of people aged 60-70, and only 16% of those over 70 (NTAS). Tellingly, the NTAS does not provide data for people with disabilities’ access to bikes.
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking’s Active Travel and Social Justice Report 2025[v] highlights the barriers to cycling for people with disabilities, which equally apply to many older people:
| Inaccessible Infrastructure | Poor design, maintenance, and physical barriers exclude adapted cycles |
| High Cost | Adapted cycles and aids are expensive with limited financial support |
| Storage Issues | Lack of secure, accessible storage for non-standard cycles |
| Stigma & Stereotypes | Misconceptions about disabled people cycling and a lack of representation |
| Harassment & Aggression | High levels of intimidation and abuse from drivers and public |
And, of course, these groups overlap: for example, poor women are far less likely to cycle than rich men, while older, disabled black people face significantly higher barriers to cycling than young, able-bodied white people.
Why people say they don’t cycle and what would make them cycle more
Safety is always the number one reason given why people don’t cycle more. And when asked what would make them cycle more, safer roads and segregated cycle routes is the most common answer given. Especially by women and ethnic minority groups. Providing safe, protected cycling lanes is far and away the best way to enable and encourage excluded groups to cycle.
Other measures that could be taken to overcome barriers to cycling include:
- Increased visibility and awareness of safe cycling routes – something we are trying to do through our Newcastle Cycling map
- Organising group rides to show each other great routes and build each others’ confidence – groups such as Let’s Ride – Breeze Newcastle & Gateshead and Teams Wheelers are great ways for people to cycle more
- Making cycles cheaper to buy or to rent – we’d encourage widening access to the Cycle to Work scheme to everyone, and point everyone towards the brilliant Recyke Y’ Bike
- Improving safe and secure cycle storage at home, in our communities and at workplaces
- Providing cycle maintenance or repair courses – again, this is available (including women only workshops) from Recyke Y’ Bike
Having children, other passengers or too much to carry is often cited as a barrier. We know this is a real challenge, and often women are expected to do more of the fetching and carrying of children and groceries. E-cargo-bikes are one solution, but very expensive. We’d love to see a local rental scheme for e-cargo-bikes.
Weather and hills are cited as barriers, and sadly there is not much we as a campaign can do about these things. But we find that the more you cycle, the easier the hills get. And the right kit can get you through a lot of what the UK weather can throw at you!
It is notable that when asked what would encourage them to cycle more, women and people from ethnic minorities respond more positively to all of the measures suggested. Measures to make it easier and safer to cycle are likely to have far more of an impact on encouraging excluded people to cycle more.
Newcastle Cycle Campaign isn’t about making it nicer for fit, rich, white men to cycle, it is about tackling the real and unfair barriers that prevent everyone in Newcastle from getting the benefits of cycling.
[i] Quoted in Hannah Ross’ excellent book ‘Revolutions, How Women Changed the World on Two Wheels’
[ii] National Travel Attitudes Study (NTAS) Wave 9: Cycling – GOV.UK
[iii] Sustrans: Women: reducing the gender gap
[iv] Barriers and Facilitators to Cycling to School for Children in the UK: A Systematic Review | Active Travel Studies