Pedal-power push for women

Published on Wednesday 4 March 2009 18:31

A UK-WIDE campaign to encourage women who never cycle to take to the saddle will be launched in Edinburgh on Sunday.

The Year of the Woman is being spearheaded by the cycle development group Sustrans and backed by Scottish-born TV presenter Dawn Porter.

It is also supported by her fellow television presenter, Dr Alice Roberts.

Other high-profile women cyclists include pop stars Duffy and Lily Allen and DJs Zoe Ball and Annie Mac.

The campaign was launched after research revealed that 75 per cent of women never cycle, despite that fact that 44 per cent have access to a bike. However, the campaign organisers believe that the current recession and concerns about climate change could boost those numbers.

Ms Porter, who was born in Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire but now lives in Los Angeles, said the weather and the terrain put women off cycling in Scotland.

She told The Scotsman: "I am sure this has a lot to do with the weather; I know that would put me off in the Glasgow area.

"Also, you can't cycle much in Edinburgh because the hills are so severe.

"I tried one year during the Festival and just ended up pushing my bike around and putting it in taxis."

Ms Porter said good waterproof clothing and properly inflated tyres, which makes pedalling less strenuous, would make cycling easier for women.

The launch event takes place from 10am to 4pm in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

It is part of the capital's Dreams on Wheels festival, which is being organised by the Danish Cultural Institute in the run-up to the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.