#andshecycles

Friday, September 20, 2019: In Ireland, fewer than one in 250 girls cycle to school each day.
Green-Schools launched its latest campaign ‘#andshecycles’ in the Science Gallery of Trinity College Dublin in September. #andshecycles focuses on encouraging young women - particularly teenagers - to cycle while recognising and discussing the reasons why they feel that cycling is not for them.
Why are young women avoiding the bike as a means of transport? Research undertaken by Green-Schools, including nationwide focus groups with secondary school students, revealed that notwithstanding the usual concerns facing every cyclist (lack of cycle lanes, safety concerns) young women were also dealing with social issues such as peer pressure; harassment on the roads from drivers and young men; and a general perception of cycling as “uncool”.
#andshecycles hopes to change and challenge these issues and perceptions through video, social media and continued liaison with students. Green-Schools hopes that by discussing and dissecting the reasons why young women are not cycling, we can highlight the positives, the ways to overcome and, through acknowledgement, help those students who might otherwise cycle to continue to do so or begin to do so in the future.
To highlight the issue and as part of their ongoing Green-Schools Travel programme more than 40 pupils from 1st to 6th year in The Ursuline College took part in a group cycle to the beach last Friday. Prior to taking part in the cycle they discussed the barriers to teenage girls cycling and watched a short film developed by the Green-Schools team.
Lisa McDaniel and Áine O’ Loughlen, Green-Schools Travel Education Officers worked closely with the Green-Schools Co-ordinator, PE teachers and the local Garda Superintendent and traffic core to organise a 16km cycle through the town, Finnisklin Industrial Estate and along the cycle lane leading to Strandhill village and back.
The highlight of the journey for the students was a visit to the ice cream parlour in Strandhill village. Many thanks to Sligo County Council for supporting the cycle by sponsoring the well deserved refreshment break!