The length of a cycling network tells us how much has been built, but not how safe a person feels throughout a journey. That distinction is clear in a European Commission account of Ireland, where women cycle at about half the rate of men. To explore why, Transport Infrastructure Ireland surveyed more than a thousand women aged 18 to 84 and combined the responses with interviews and travel diaries.
Three related themes emerged: personal experience, infrastructure and traffic, and cultural norms. Someone may want to ride, yet reconsider when a protected route suddenly ends at a difficult junction. Likewise, a cycle lane occupied by parked cars still exists on a map, even though riders must move into general traffic to continue. Participants particularly valued routes that are well lit, separated from motor vehicles and connected, especially during darker hours.
A useful network is more than one good section. It needs to work from home to work, shops or childcare, including crossings and junctions. Infrastructure alone also cannot remove fears of harassment, lack of confidence in traffic or the assumption that everyday errands are unsuitable for cycling. By considering continuity and who actually uses a route alongside its length, planners can better reflect the journeys people need to make.