Lifestyle

Women on Wheels: A History of the Bicycle and Women’s Rights

Legendary cyclist Beryl Burton
A ladies safety bicycle from 1891
Illustration from The San Francisco Call, 1895 (US Library of Congress)
The Afghan Women's Cycle Team show that bicycles are still a tool for promoting women's rights

The bicycle is often spoken about in terms of its ‘humbleness’ and technological simplicity. But this is unfair. Because of our current car-addled universe, we sometimes forget the huge social impact of the bicycle in favour of grander societal arcs.

The History of Cycling Infographic

It’s also difficult to express sincerity when dealing with a topic that invites such earnestness, so that’s why I’m going to use distinctly non-journalistic language to tell you that the bicycle is TOTALLY AWESOME, and it DEFINITELY changed the world’s approach to those of us with LADY BITS.

Women: stand up and applaud the rust bucket in your garage. For it had a big part in creating a world where you can freely argue with Caitlin Moran on Twitter about whether real feminists eat avocados.