How Cambridge is getting women on their bikes

For over 15 years I have cycled at least 10 miles a day but don't consider cycling to be my sport – it's just my way of getting around in a way that I find convenient, enjoyable, environmentally friendly and very economical. It keeps me fit, controls my weight and saves time.

Yet, despite of all these benefits, research last autumn revealed that 79% of women in the UK never cycle. The study led to a petition calling for safer cycling routes, which was subsequently signed by 9,000 women and presented to the minister for transport, Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly in January. British Cycling, concerned that there are now three times as many men as women cycling in the UK, is also conducting a survey to find out what's putting women off.

The film Beauty and the Bike shows how British women are deterred from cycling by the infrastructure of their towns and cities. Made by Darlington Cycling Campaign, it also shows how a pioneering group of teenage girls took up cycling in a hostile environment. Consider this: many of today's girls are likely to become tomorrow's drivers and mothers. They will be more cycle-aware drivers if they are cyclists themselves. Being cyclists before becoming drivers also means they will be likely to choose their bikes over their cars where possible and more likely to bring their children up to cycle. Take, for example, Denmark or Holland. Imagine the consequences of large numbers of women choosing to cycle instead of drive in the UK. Imagine the environmental benefits and the economic benefits to the NHS as well as ensuring our girls are self-reliant, independent, confident, healthy and mobile.

Looking good is not all that women care about but for many teenage girls it is a sensitive concern. Cycling Chic is a concept that is gently changing the cycling world through its emphasis on style because of its appeal to non-sporty cyclists. Look at the Copenhagen Cycling Chic website if you doubt this and see the number of sister blogs it has spawned. If looking good gets women cycling, then mission accomplished.

Cambridge Cycling Campaign is trying this tack by hosting an event intended to normalise the image of cycling. The Ride for joy will bring together women and girls to cycle around the centre of Cambridge, all dressed up – or down – to illustrate that it is possible to cycle stylishly in ordinary clothes, that it's not all high-visibility and Lycra fabrics.

We need to stop focusing on cycling as a sport and to start taking it seriously as the most viable method of environmentally friendly transport, by providing cycle routes where women feel safe.