The #andshecycles campaign — which aims to highlight the issues faced by schoolgirls who cycle — was launched yesterday by Green Schools programme run by An Taisce.
Safety on the roads, abuse from drivers, catcalls from boys and men, peer pressure from other girls, and impractical school uniforms are among the issues schoolgirls who cycle face.
Green Schools launched the campaign at an event in Dublin yesterday and also put out this video:
1 in 250 teenage girls cycle to school daily. Our upcoming #andshecycles campaign launch, Sept19 @SciGalleryDub, will create a platform for girls to speak about cycling experiences/attitudes, explore barriers & promote empowerment among girls who are cycling or want to cycle more pic.twitter.com/U29yjvXjmg
— Green-Schools (@GreenSchoolsIre) September 10, 2019
The issue was covered on RTE News:
Fewer than one in 250 teenage girls in Ireland cycles to school each day, according to An Taisce, and the ones who do cycle say verbal harassment is a top deterrent | Read more: https://t.co/3WagQKX00X pic.twitter.com/UZpFT1CFZK
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 19, 2019
It’s worth also checking out the detailed article on RTE.ie:
Girls aren’t cycling, and sometimes it’s because they feel intimidated by men who “yell” at them. #andshecycles @IrishCycle #yourRTE https://t.co/bZ6yN5hEvE
— emma o kelly (@emma_okelly) September 19, 2019
There was quite a bit of reaction to the campaign on Twitter, the conditions school girls cycling have to put up with, and the news covering it:
Loved the piece by @emma_okelly on encouraging cycling among schoolgirls. Our biggest challenge is road safety for young cyclists who are just starting out. Would love split paths for walking/cycling, more dedicated cycle lanes. #andshecycles @IrishCycle @RTERadio1 #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/kf8IKeE35k
— Beth Kocher Gormley (@BethKocher) September 19, 2019
Why do so few girls cycle to school? @AnTaisce did the research: harassment from boys & men, uniform, as well as safety concerns, etc. Let's work with girls to tackle this, needs action from Councils, DoT, schools & all of us. #andshecycles https://t.co/EB3c72kpJy via @rte
— Cllr. Caroline Conroy (@caroline1conroy) September 19, 2019
My niece is one of the 20. It's so depressing that 20/700 is a high figure. (Her aunt never cycled in secondary school, and am 18 years cycling as an adult in Dublin now, so there's hope for us all) https://t.co/8zb5aFsYTt #andshecycles
— jill (@jillajordan) September 19, 2019
Great to see these #womenonwheels speaking out – we need better infrastructure for everyone who cycles https://t.co/FrLYAPHthB
— Louise Williams (@loureports) September 19, 2019
Important and necessary conversations about equality of access to public space and healthy travel .. 🚴🏿♀️🚴🏿♀️
Some brilliant young women here breaking down barriers#AndSheCycles pic.twitter.com/yUJ9nYVRRs— Janet Horner (@JanetPHorner) September 19, 2019
"Just one in four people who cycle are female." #andshecycles initiative is brilliant & needed. All cyclists should feel safer on Irish roads – physically and psychologically. https://t.co/eJkC6oxfF5
— Laura Costello (@Lauraevelync) September 19, 2019
The type of man who shouts t or harasses yong girls on bikes should be shot!
Miss J recently started 1st yr & she's refusing to cycle. Feels unsafe, not wanting to be seen wearing a helmet, not cool..are some of the excuses. #andshecycles https://t.co/b4ZHk9YpmQ— rachel enright (@enrightrachel) September 19, 2019
Lovely to be at the launch of #AndSheCycles today and support teenage girls scooting about town and country via pedal power. Great for independence, convenience, and health.
And lovely to meet some adult cyclists too @monthlycycles @ConorC @eganr88 💙 @dublincycling https://t.co/o9EbFgrSGl
— Martina (@MartinaCallanan) September 19, 2019
#andshecycles The future seems in safe hands with these empowered and young cyclists. Self-aware and aware of what's going on around them. A joyful video. Well done @GreenSchoolsIre https://t.co/kRfXpz5OCH
— Denise Hanrahan (@DHLis1) September 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/AndreaLHenry/status/1174803908310556672?s=20
Til separated cycle lanes are built, I won’t let my primary & secondary school kids (daughters, sons, no matter) cycle to school or anywhere else in Dublin. They walk & take bus. Risks of cycling in car traffic are too high. #andshecycles for us is sadly a pipe dream for now.
— Lee Dillon 🌳😷🚺⚖️🚹😷🌊 (@leeirenedillon) September 19, 2019
The type of man who shouts t or harasses yong girls on bikes should be shot!
Miss J recently started 1st yr & she's refusing to cycle. Feels unsafe, not wanting to be seen wearing a helmet, not cool..are some of the excuses. #andshecycles https://t.co/b4ZHk9YpmQ— rachel enright (@enrightrachel) September 19, 2019
I can’t remember the name of the girls school opposite Sundrive Road Garda Station but it has a sign banning cycling in the school grounds but if you’re a teacher or delivery van you can bring your 2 ton vehicle into the school grounds no problem! No very welcoming to it’s pupils.