Women on Wheels experience the joy of learning to ride a bicycle later in life
Suburban car parks are used as a training ground before students progress to cycling paths. (Supplied: WestCycle)
In short:
The Women on Wheels program has women teaching other women, trans, and non-binary people with little or no cycling experience to ride.
Since the program launched last year about 80 students have experienced the joy of learning to ride later in life.
What's next?
The program aims to narrow the gender gap in the cycling community along with health and environmental benefits.
In a taped off car park in suburban Perth, a group of women are learning to ride a bicycle for the first time.
The initial challenge is sitting on the saddle and pushing by foot — without yet touching the pedals.
It can be daunting, but just four lessons later they cycle around a lake, celebrating their new skills and confidence boost.
Loading...One of the students, Sarra Hassani, says she cannot wait to keep practising and hopes her work commute will soon be on two wheels.
"I did find it very freeing, like it really opened up a whole new world to me," she said.
Ms Hassani signed up for the Women on Wheels program because her seven-year-old daughter had been reluctant to learn to ride herself.
"So we had a chat and she was like 'why should I learn if you don't know how to ride'," she said.
"I was like 'I really regret not learning at your age, that's why I don't want you to go through the same'."
Some students just need a little push
About 80 students have experienced the joy of learning to ride a bicycle since the program launched last year in Western Australia.
Program participant Erica Jongen now hopes cycling will become a regular part of her life. (ABC News: Isabel Moussalli)
Erica Jongen said she used to be in a cycling group overseas but lost confidence.
But at 69 she said she had it back.
"To be cycling is a great joy," she said.
"I really appreciated the opportunity to experience that again because I was thinking about giving my bike away.
"But now I'm going to get it tuned and get peddling more."
Reducing the cycling gender gap
The program is for women, transgender, and non-binary people with little or no cycling experience.
By partnering with various councils the non-profit WestCycle brings free or cheap classes to a location near the students and can organise bikes if access to one is an issue.
The classes are taught by women and foster a judgement-free environment where no question is too silly.
Instructors Jan O'Brien and Tracy Chapman taught the latest cohort of the Women on Wheels program. (ABC News: Isabel Moussalli)
Instructor Jan O'Brien said they covered everything from the basics to bike maintenance, communication, and safety.
"It becomes quite intimidating to get out there and ride, particularly [when] there are so many other cyclists out there [and] which are generally men," she said.
"That makes it hard for women to feel comfortable on the bike.
"So I think programs like this, just basically led by women, helps the women feel more comfortable."
Creating a sense of community
Lauren Pearson says dedicated programs are needed to help increase the number of women riders. (Supplied: Monash University)
It has found a fan in Dr Lauren Pearson, a specialist in gender and active transport at Monash University.
She said Women on Wheels and other similar programs across Australia empowered women and improved their health, transport options, and sense of community.
They were particularly important results, she added, because "for every two men that are riding a bike, there is one woman".
Dr Pearson said women faced numerous barriers to riding and her research found a lack infrastructure was the top issue.
Overcoming that included creating more protection from traffic.
Some participants didn't learn to cycle as a child, while others haven't touched a bicycle in decades. (Supplied: WestCycle)
"But we know that even when you provide the infrastructure you still need that helping hand to be able to understand how you use it, how to repair your bike, and what kind of bike you need," she said.
"These kinds of programs are absolutely fantastic for really thinking about how it is that we reduce those gender inequities and overcome some of those gendered barriers that many women experience."
She said the benefit came from programs that involved women in the design process and "we listen to them" to make sure "it's not just men implementing programs for women, but programs that actually meet the needs of women".
Back at the final class at Perth's Lake Monger, Sarra Hassani is ready to inspire the next generation of female cyclists, starting with her daughter.
"I've done something I was afraid to do," she said.
"She's looking up to [me] now [thinking], 'If mum can do it, so can I'."
Erica Jongen has a message to aspiring cyclists — "get a decent bike so you're not fighting changing gears, or it's a rusty thing and the chains fall off".
"And look out for these courses.
"Get your confidence up because it's going to give you opportunities you never thought would be there."