Secret Cyclist: There's a stigma around being labelled a cyclist

Why, when we all use the same roads, are cyclists singled out for criticism?

The term cyclist comes with a lot of emotional baggage.

What makes a cyclist? Everyone has a unique journey into cycling. Between the ages of around nine and nineteen, my transport choices were very simple. School, both primary and secondary, was a short walk away. As were the local shops. Sports training, friends’ houses, and part-time jobs were all under a 15-minute cycle. Car journeys were mostly reserved for away sports matches and trips to the beach.

I grew up in a one-car household and that car was typically not in the driveway for the majority of the day so walking and cycling were my bread and butter. The only complicating factor in my early cycling days was the purchase of a road bike in my late teens. A road bike added a new dimension to my cycling as I wasn’t only just cycling for utility reasons anymore but also for exploration purposes. Giving a teenager a tool to let them travel 50 or 60 kilometers from home on their own or with friends is something that should be a formative experience for as many young people as possible.