Jessica Tangelder’s Post

I've been reflecting this International Women's Day about how unusual Cycle Sprog is in the cycling industry. Our core team is myself, Saskia Heijltjes Mildred Locke and Emily Wormald. However, we are NOT a female cycling brand. Our audience is parents and grandparents who want to pass on the joy of cycling to the next generation. We also have a male co-founder and a number of amazing men contributing to our business. But what does having powerful female voices at the heart of our business mean? Well, Google tells us that our audience in 2023 was 54% male and 46% female. This is is a stat I'm very proud of as parenting websites in general tend to be female focused, and cycling websites and magazines usually reach a predominantly male audience. I strongly believe that Cycle Sprog has managed to hit that sweet spot by having a diverse range of voices sharing their experiences and knowledge. We use imagery and wording that makes women feel that family cycling is something they can do, and that kids bikes, cargo bikes and family cycling equipment is something they can understand and care about. I've heard people in the cycling industry saying they only get suitably qualified men applying for roles they advertise, so if you're keen to improve diversity in your workforce I really recommend using the Bicycle Association's Guide to Inclusive Recruitment when you write your next job advertisement. Perhaps it may just help reach new customer groups - something the cycling industry desperately needs at the moment. https://lnkd.in/e5art_HS #cycling #iwd2024 #femalefounders #parenting #internationalwomensday

Did you know that for every two men riding a bike there is only one woman? For women the top barrier to getting on a bike is lack of safe infrastructure. I love this article which shows the way to getting more women cycling. It also highlights the personal benefits of cycling. For those in the transport infrastructure sector it emphasises the value of co-design. Women must be engaged in the planning process. #womenininfrastructure #transportplanning #activetransport #womenempoweringwomen

Here's to experimenting on how we can organize in different communities! 😊 Immense gratitude for the support of my organization, Lunas Collective in implementing these unique activities! Check out the article and discover the pleasure activism in practice!

"To boost women’s cycling we must ALL become safe infrastructure advocates" Mark Sutton #cycling #cyclingcommunity #activetravel #transport #futuremobility #newmobility #transportinfrastructure #remodeling #builtenvironment #inclusion #accessibility #societalimpact #economicimpact #environmentalimpact #futurecities #PolicyShapesSociety #government #policymakers #leadership #advocacy #lobbying #infrastructureinvestment #behaviourchange #mindsetshift

Safe cycling infrastructure is a gender issue! 🚴♀️⁠ ⁠ Numerous studies on the gender cycling gap have cited ❗️safety❗️ as the number one reason women do not cycle or do not cycle as frequently as men.⁠ ⁠ Research from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs found that women have greater safety concerns because they are actually at greater risk. A field experiment found that drivers were significantly more likely to pass a woman cycling within 3 feet than a man cycling. Of the 33 recorded encroachments that occurred, 24 of them (73%) were on a woman riding, indicating that she was nearly 4 times more likely to be encroached upon than a man cycling. 🚘️🤏⁠ ⁠ Research by the Near Miss Project found that women cyclists face disproportionate road violence, with women in the study being almost twice as likely to experience ‘near miss’ incidents. 🚙🚨⁠ ⁠ Many drivers believe that they own the road, channeling the idea that cyclists have no claim to their road space, let alone women riding bikes. This sense of entitlement contributes to greater risks for cyclists and keeps many others off the saddle entirely. ❌️⁠ ⁠ To support women, girls, gender-diverse people, and everyone else who wants to ride safely, we need a complete network of all ages and abilities cycling infrastructure in cities and towns (and in between!) across Canada. We need many more bike lanes - not less. 🚲️💚⁠ ⁠ Read more in our article "Pedalling Against the Patriarchy": https://lnkd.in/gjA-aWxV ⁠ #Cycling #Gender

Our vision is and has always been to look for the next generation by starting at the bottom and not grow the sport from the top down. That’s never going to be sustainable. This is a vision statement and that sounds boring but we are talking about cycling and that all starts with fun. Never lose that fun that got you on the bike in the first place. The rest comes from that motivation. It’s not all fun and games of course because we need results too. It’s top sports after all. We do believe they come naturally when you provide the right environment and select the right people. Our past seasons showed succes, coming from talent but also from team and personal values like: • Professional, well-trained but emphatic staff: a family away from home • A safe working environment for all, both men and women • Attention for women’s specific problems like pelvic floor injuries and menstrual cycle • Performance-driven but not results-driven • Never lose sight of the athlete off the bike • Focus on education and careers post-cycling • Inspiring each other • Respecting the team, the environment and the public. Riders inspire each other, inspire staff and in the end inspire sports fans, the fans that are consumers. CAN WE HAVE AN AUTOGRAPH? Cycling is one of the most accessible professional sports out there. Riders can be easily approached at start or finish locations, or at company events. The road is our arena. No entry tickets, no gates. Top sports on the go for everyone to see, enjoy and cheer on. We feel our athletes race to inspire, not only in cycling kit but as people in jeans or an evening dress. We feel inspired by their talent, personality and grit. Young girls wanting an autograph makes our heart sing. Do you feel inspired too? #NXTGRacing #unlockyourpotential #developmentfirst #werisebyliftingothers

This is a very good example of how public policy can improve our health and well being. "Research shows most people would like to cycle more: however, a lack of safe routes and a fear of sharing the roads with motor traffic puts cycling out of reach for most people, particularly women." https://lnkd.in/e4D6mxuv Here is a link to my short introduction to the subject. https://lnkd.in/emVQaenF

Latest in #AMAR. This research focused on cycling safety and the differences in injury outcomes between women and men riders. In the article we emphasize that the underlying mechanics, behaviors, and experience of female and male rides engaged in vehicle-bicycle crashes are different and must be accounted for in the future safety mitigation strategies and policy development Out-of-sample prediction indicates that there would be a 10.6% reduction in severe injuries if female parameters held for male cyclists. Co-authored with Prof. Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Ph.D, PE, FASCE, FITE, ASEMFL. https://lnkd.in/esTWk-7s

My latest article... Cycling gets you further, faster and healthier. However, across the UK, US and Canada, two-wheeled commuting is largely dominated by men. Research has continuously emphasised that this is mainly due to lack of protective infrastructure, leaving women feeling unsafe to cycle. What comes first: infrastructure or behaviour change? For #DonellaMeadows shifting physical infrastructure is usually the slowest and most expensive type of change to make in a system. To support change in attitude, women from my recent research came up with the idea of stimulating a debate around the health implications that inappropriate saddles and ill-fitting bikes can have on women’s bodies… and recommending that bicycle shops develop a library of women-tailored saddles designed to respond to women’s anatomy, making cycling a more comfortable experience. Thanks to Susanne Mueller Ellen Grünewald, PhD Jennifer Elliot from #PortyCommunityEnergy such a library is now up and running in Portobello/ Edinburgh Sustrans https://lnkd.in/dead2hPc

🚲 Never underestimate the power of building community!   Excited to share insights from our latest blog post featuring the incredible work of TandEm, a pioneering cycling program aimed at bridging the gender gap in cycling across Europe. Led by EIT Urban Mobility and BYCS, TandEm is more than just a cycling initiative - it's a movement for empowerment and change.   ➡ Here's a snapshot of what TandEm is all about:   🙋♀️ Training and Empowerment: TandEm isn't just about teaching women to cycle; it's about equipping them with the skills and confidence to become cycling trainers themselves. Through a rigorous train-the-trainer program, women across Europe are empowered to lead the change in promoting cycling within their communities.   🌍 Transnational Impact: Europe's diverse cultural landscape provides a unique opportunity for the exchange of best practices and innovative strategies. TandEm leverages this advantage to maximize the effectiveness of its empowerment program and foster a cycling-friendly environment across borders.   🚴♀️ Overcoming Barriers: From access to bicycles and equipment to addressing safety concerns and social norms, TandEm tackles the multifaceted challenges that women face in European cities when it comes to cycling. By providing tailored support and fostering a sense of community, TandEm empowers women to overcome these barriers and embrace cycling as a mode of transportation and empowerment.   💡 Future Directions: With a vision to expand its reach and impact, TandEm is exploring avenues to scale its program both within Europe and beyond. From online platforms to partnerships with organizations and bike share systems, TandEm is committed to making cycling accessible to women worldwide.   🔊 Empowering Women, Building Leaders: At its core, TandEm is about more than just cycling—it's about empowering women to become leaders and advocates for change. By providing a supportive environment and fostering positive experiences, TandEm inspires women to challenge norms, break barriers, and create a more inclusive and equitable society.   ▶ Learn more about TandEm in our new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eEF3ZHbw   #CyclingEmpowerment #WomenMobilize