British Cycling launches new strategy to get more women cycling

British Cycling has launched its new vision for women’s cycling at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in London.

Our ambition is to get one million more women on bikes by 2020. This target is a big challenge – only 525,000 women are currently riding one a week and just under 1.2 million women ride once a month – so we’re looking to pretty much double that figure over the next seven years.

We’re aiming to do it by continuing to inspire women to ride recreationally through our Breeze and Sky Ride programmes and continuing to campaign for safer roads for all cyclists (as we know 30% of women have identified safety fears as their main barrier to taking up cycling). We’ll also set up entry-level racing opportunities for women at key facilities across the country, work to influence more event organisers to put on women’s events to run alongside men’s races, and establish a National Youth Form with equal male and female representation. We’ll recruit more female coaches, volunteers and officials into the sport and will work to ensure that our board is more representative, with plans to recruit three new female board members.

The key to success is embedding our strategy in all that we do – including ensuring that our website, our membership offer and our branding is appealing to women. We’ll also look at now we can better promote free expert advice, cycling routes and our Social Cycling Groups network to demonstrate how easy it is to get involved.

The launch in London on 25 March was supported by Culture Secretary Maria Miller MP, Sport England and Sky as well as other key stakeholders such as the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation. Breeze ambassador Jess Varnish (above) was there to lend support, saying:

‘If we can realise this ambition it will go a long way to refreshing cycling’s image so it isn’t seen as a sport only for men in lycra. The best thing about cycling is that anyone can do it, and in whatever form they like. I’m looking forward to seeing more women riding bikes and, most importantly, enjoying every moment.’

Read the full strategy here and tell us what you think on our Facebook page.