Latest section of Sustrans/BCC connect2 route opens.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah-Jane on December 28, 2011 at 14:09

I didn't see the studs at Pype Hayes - there are several paths across there so maybe I took a different one.

I personally don't have a problem with cycling on my own in the dark or in quiet spots, canals etc, but I think a lot of women do. The impression I get from friends and work colleagues is that personal safety is as much an issue for them as road safety. Rightly or wrongly, there is a perception that parks, open spaces etc are dangerous. I think this is something that isn't taken into consideration enough but has a real effect on women taking up cycling. I rarely see other women when I'm out and about in Birmingham, on or off the road.

Robert said:

Sarah-Jane Watkinson said:

lighting for the most part. I'm not suggesting it gets floodlit, but something like the solar powered studs along the River Rea would be useful. They don't contribute anything in terms of illumination, but the way

The section through Pype Hayes Park does have solar-powered studs (at least partly), but it goes across an open area so I would imagine they are more useful here than on the sections surrounded on both sides by either a fence or rough ground.   I got the impression that the route was less threatening than NCN 535, though the canal up from Spag J was a tad creepy, with several decidedly dodgy-looking individuals on the towpath.   That said one tough-looking young man with an Alsation turned out to be friendly and considerate, like most of the people I encountered, whilst everyone else just left me alone.

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Permalink Reply by Robert on December 28, 2011 at 14:46

If I remember correctly the solar-powered route markers are here.

I think fears about personal safety are common to both women and men (not all of whom are built like brick out-houses).   A personal attack alarm is a good idea, and of course one can always cycle with friends.

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Permalink Reply by Kim on December 28, 2011 at 23:10

I'll second most of that, but personal safety can be very subjective.  While I have no particular fear of open spaces and cyclepaths other than perhaps getting mugged (which hasn't happened to me yet) or attacked by a badly behaved dog, I know women who are frequently victims of street harassment - other than the odd homophobic comment, it seems that I simply don't attract that kind of attention.  I also appreciate that nerdy-looking young men can be an instant target for otherwise innocuous groups of teenagers.  I can imagine the more difficult to escape from public places can be seriously scary if that sort of thing happens to you on a regular basis.

I reckon those sorts of situations are relatively safe when travelling by bike - if you keep up a decent pace, and have good lights after dark, you're gone before a potential attacker has decided whether you're worth bothering with.

Technical bits of towpath worry me more, though - I've only ridden the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal towpath the once - on a lovely summer afternoon, on a touring bike with full camping kit.  As I approached the city centre, I was hot and tired, and generally not in a mood for getting on the wrong side of a recreational pharmacist and a group of customers who were occupying a steep narrow section by a lock.  Fortunately I was able to ride past before they really noticed (and started shouting something unintelligible at me), but if I'd been less lucky or more hesitant, I can't imagine it ending well.

Cycling with friends is great, but isn't always practical.  :/

 

Sarah-Jane Watkinson said:

I personally don't have a problem with cycling on my own in the dark or in quiet spots, canals etc, but I think a lot of women do. The impression I get from friends and work colleagues is that personal safety is as much an issue for them as road safety. Rightly or wrongly, there is a perception that parks, open spaces etc are dangerous. I think this is something that isn't taken into consideration enough but has a real effect on women taking up cycling. I rarely see other women when I'm out and about in Birmingham, on or off the road.

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