‘We’re pedalling towards a greener, happier future’

Sarah Mitchell is the first female CEO of Cycling UK, and is determined to encourage more women to get on their bikes.

Cycling has always been a big part of my life. From pedalling to school, to meeting friends, it felt natural from a young age to be on two wheels. My parents have always been outdoorsy. They love gardening and still take any opportunity to be outside. They have definitely passed that love on to me.

I initially wanted to be a politician, getting a job in politics after university. However, I realised it wasn’t for me and retrained to be an accountant, before moving to the charity sector. Drawing on my finance experience, I worked for homelessness charities including Crisis and Shelter. It’s been a varied career, but all my roles had one thing in common; I wanted to make a difference.

My love of cycling has never wavered. It’s an affordable and practical way to commute, much more enjoyable than the Tube, but it also helps me to relax and de-stress. I love going out on my own to explore, pedalling along the Thames and taking in the sights. So when the opportunity came up last year to be CEO of Cycling UK, I jumped at the chance.

I am the first female CEO the charity has had in its 140-year history. Cycling is often viewed as a man’s world, with many people imagining competitiveness and middle-aged men in Lycra. Cycling UK has 71,000 members, and it’s true that the majority are men. The exact reasons for this are unclear, but the feeling is that some women believe it’s dangerous to cycle, particularly on busy roads. If they do go out on a bike and see fewer women cycling, this reinforces that.

I definitely feel a responsibility to address this gender imbalance. We have an annual event – the Women’s Festival Of Cycling, from 17 July to 1 August – to encourage women to get out on their bikes, either alone or with friends. We also have a Facebook page where people can ask questions and share tips. I’m a firm believer that cycling is for everyone.

One ray of light in 2020 was a rise in people getting out on their bikes. Statistics from the exercise app Strava showed a 100% increase in women on bikes, which proves that when the streets are quieter, women feel safer to give it a go. We also saw a huge demand for our Big Bike Revival, encouraging people to get their old bikes out of the shed and get them mended.

For those who like the idea of cycling but perhaps haven’t done so for years, our website is full of advice, routes and ideas. I suggest people go out on a Sunday for the first time, when streets are quieter, plan a little route in advance and try to avoid main roads until their confidence grows. There are numerous buddying schemes you can sign up to, or cycling proficiency, which a lot of people remember from school, but there are also courses for adults. It’s not about being elite or taking on huge distances. Primarily, it should be about enjoyment.

Cycling is hugely beneficial to the environment. However, we do need to create conditions in which everyone feels secure and happy to take to the saddle. Infrastructure such as dedicated cycle lanes has never been more important. As a charity, our ultimate aim is to get a million more people cycling regularly by 2025, creating a community that’s inclusive, supportive and pedalling towards a greener, happier future. • Find out more at cyclinguk.org