Son says "How can cycling be considered inappropriate for women???"

Youngest son Sofian, 14 yrs, was wondering what the presentation that I am preparing for the round table session for Velo-city next wednesday, will be about.

I tell him about gender inequality in cycling in many countries in the world and some of the reasons for it. He can not believe that cycling could possibly be inappropriate for women and says "I think it is peculiar. How can cycling be considered inappropriate???"

I am happy to hear his opinion about this and see his surprised face.

Then I give him a short version of women & cycling history in the Netherlands. Where 100 years ago (and less) cycling was also not seen as an activity that should be stimulated for women. Found an old picture on the web from that period. Man rides, woman is taken...

(members.multimania.nl)

Still there are specific groups of women here for whom cycling is not self-evident. Like immigrant and refugee women. Thank you, people of Velo-city, for allowing me a discussion with cycling experts on how to change this in many places!

My message for UN Women

On the 24th February UN Women has been launched. On the 8th of March we celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. A reason for the Guardian, Global Development to start gathering pictures with messages for UN Women.
You can send your message in a picture to them and many of them are being published in the Flickr Group.


Here is my message to this group:

I live in the Netherlands. Almost all women cycle here. Except expats, immigrants and refugees. In many countries women are not allowed to bicyle or they are strongly discouraged. As cycling seems to be considered a masculine activity in many places. But cycling is a perfect sustainable way to move around. Also with children, shoppings, etc!