Empowering Women to Cycle

 

Empowering Women to Cycle- Insights Beyond Numbers builds on Transport Infrastructure Ireland's earlier research, Travelling in a Woman's Shoes, and directly supports the ambitions set out in TII's Statement of Strategy 2026–2030. The Strategy establishes a clear direction for the organisation with a strong focus on safety, sustainability and climate action, inclusive access to the transport system, and maximising the value of the State's transport infrastructure. It also reaffirms TII's commitment to delivering active travel infrastructure, including Greenways and the National Cycle Network, as part of a broader transition to a low carbon and people centred transport system.

Delivered through the TII Research Programme.

Helen Hughes - Director of Professional Services

This study is a product of TII's commitment to evidence‑based decision‑making, research, and best practice. It was developed and delivered under one of the TII Research Programmes titled TII Open Research Calls. Further background is outlined in TII's Research Strategy.

By informing policy development and infrastructure design with robust research, we strengthen our ability to support national objectives, to manage transport challenges, encourage a shift towards more active modes of transport, and provide safer
travel opportunities.

I welcome this research and encourage its findings to be used to inform the continued development of Ireland's transport networks.

Rachel Cahill - Director of Executive Office and Sustainability Lead

To effect change and influence modal shift, transport agencies like TII who have responsibility for delivering sustainable transport infrastructure need to understand the reasons behind why people choose their day-to-day modes of transport and what it will take to shift people from the car onto more sustainable forms, such as light rail, bus, walking and cycling.

This research provides key insights, and an understanding of barriers women experience when travelling in addition to recommendations for unlocking cycling as a modal choice for more women in Ireland.

 

 

While most women in Ireland can cycle and have access to a bicycle, they are significantly less likely than men to choose cycling for everyday journeys. Understanding this gap is critical to increasing the use of active travel, reducing transport emissions, and ensuring that investments in cycling infrastructure deliver benefits for all sections of society.

In Ireland travel surveys and quantitative data is collected regularly to monitor changes in our transport system. This demonstrate best practice and provides a means to measure progress towards national targets and policies, for example the Bike Index series, released every two years by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust and the NTA, provides clear evidence that the numbers of men and women cycling in Ireland continues to increase in our cities demonstrating shift towards sustainable mobility.

Women in Ireland still cycle less than men, this pattern remains, and we don't fully know or understand what's driving this gap. This study examines this trend and goes beyond numbers to ask why women cycle less often than men in Ireland.

Empowering Women to Cycle – Insights Beyond Numbers provides insightful evidence and practical recommendations to inform policy, planning and transport delivery applicable across the transport sector. TII welcomes the findings and encourages their use by policymakers, practitioners and delivery partners. This research provides unique insights to help achieve overarching transport objectives and takes a necessary step towards delivering safe, sustainable and inclusive transport systems.

 

Project Phases

Research combined international and Irish literature with new rich, in depth qualitative evidence gathered from over 1001 women across Ireland.

Literature Review

Review of current policy context, cycling rates in Ireland compared to other nations, and existing research illustrating why cycling rates in women are lower than men.

Survey

Distributed to women in Ireland through the Dynata platform with 1047 responses from a demographic and geographic range of women.

Ethnographic Research*

*A qualitative research method used t understand and “insiders’ perspective” or the “user experience” through in-depth interviews, travel diaries and surveys.
A further in-depth look at cycling habits with women who responded to the survey. 22 women took part in travel journals (logging 73 journeys) and 18 in interviews. 3 case studies were developed from the responses to this phase.

Workshops*

*A collaborative bottom-up participatory research approach where researcher, stakeholders and end-users -jointly generate knowledge, insights and recommendations
.The first was held in person in Dublin and had 15 attendees (14 women and one man) representing different organisations and sectors of society, relating to cycling. The second workshop approached the same participant group, was held on-line, and had 7 attendees.

By placing women's lived experience at the centre of the study, the research highlights how cycling decisions are shaped not only by infrastructure quality, but also by safety and personal security, cultural perceptions, connectivity, time pressures and life stage.

The Research Team

 

 

 

Key Findings from the Research

Empowering Women to Cycle – Insights Beyond Numbers – 3 main conclusions

  1. Safety matters: both road safety and personal safety—is the single biggest barrier preventing more women from cycling.
  2. Women's lived experiences and caregiving responsibilities matter: As people move through life, their travel needs change in ways the transport network often can't support. Designing networks that work for women—particularly for those travelling with children, accompanying others, or undertaking complex everyday journeys—also results in streets and routes that are safer and more accessible for everyone.
  3. Cultural norms and perceptions matter: car centric society and limited female visibility in transport leadership shape mode choice norms

Empowering Women to Cycle – Insights Beyond Numbers – 3 avenues for change through the work that TII does:

  1. Safety: achieve Vision Zero through support and advocacy to deliver the Government of Ireland's Road Safety Strategy.
  2. Plan transport that supports more diverse travel patterns: adopt the TII Gender Lens Tool e.g. successfully use in Luas Finglas.
  3. Change the Culture: raise awareness of the barriers, challenges and ways to improve them – Disseminate and promote/raise awareness and advocate the EWTC Research Report.

Luas Finglas is the first public transport project in Ireland to formally apply the TII Gender Lens Tool to the design process. This was recognised in the railway order report for the project.

 


 

Learn More

 

Empowering Women to Cycle Report
TII Gender Lens Tool

 

Travelling in a Woman's Shoes Report
Supporting Documents