ALMOST three-quarters of women living in seven major UK cities never ride a bike for local journeys, a survey suggests.

This is despite more than two-thirds believing their city would be a better place to live and work if more people cycled, according to research commissioned by walking and cycling charity Sustrans.

More than 7,700 residents of Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Greater Manchester were polled.

Twice as many men as women currently ride a bike at least once a week in the cities.

The difference in participation between genders appears to be smaller where overall cycling uptake is higher, such as Bristol where 18 per cent of women cycle compared with 32 per cent of men.

Sustrans chief executive Xavier Brice said: “51 per cent of the UK population is female, yet most of our cities are failing to design roads and streets for women to cycle.

“Evidence from the UK and beyond shows that when dedicated space for riding a bike is provided, alongside engagement programmes, the gender gap in cycling can be eliminated.

“Governments at all levels need to listen to women’s voices and invest in a network of dedicated cycling routes and training so that everyone feels comfortable and confident to ride a bicycle, regardless of gender, age and disability.”