Your say / cycling
‘Decisions like those made by Cycling UK only add fuel to hatred’
This year, I was honoured to be recognised as one of Cycling UK’s 100 women in Cycling 2025 for my work running Lunar Cycles, a cycle club for women and gender minorities.
Unfortunately, however, I had to make the difficult decision to decline it.
Cycling UK is a charity that works to make cycling accessible, and the award aims to celebrate the UK’s most inspirational women in cycling.
However, this year, Cycling UK decided to exclude trans women.
As a queer- and trans-run cycling club whose aim is to be inclusive and provide a safe space for women and gender minorities in cycling, the decision is completely misaligned with our ethos and with how we envision the future of cycling in the UK.
Rosie Wilson is the founder of a cycling club for women and gender minorities – photo: Lunar Cycles
While Cycling UK stated that their decision had been made following “legal advice”, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Equality Act 2010’s allowance for single “sex” spaces is not an obligation.
Furthermore, under the Act, any exclusion based on gender reassignment must satisfy the requirement of being a “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”.
Considering the above, and the awards not being a “physical space”, a blanket exclusion of trans women is not proportional and does not meet the legal test required under the Equality Act 2010.
Trans women already face exclusion, especially when belonging to ethnic minorities.
At the root lies irrational hatred and binary understandings of gender (which in itself is also unscientific – check out the books Bitch: On the Female of the Species and Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality).
Decisions like those made by Cycling UK only add fuel to this hatred.
A number of cyclists in Bristol including Rosie Wilson who were nominated for a list of top 100 women cyclists have declined the honour – photo: Rosie Wilson
Here, some of our trans and non-binary members illustrate the importance of inclusivity in cycling:
Joni, Lunar Cycles member and Transcon finisher
“Lunar Cycles is important to me as it’s a safe space where I don’t feel judged or awkward, and it has allowed me to get back into cycling after experiencing anxiety around traffic and other clubs.
“As one of those who nominated Rosie for her tireless effort, it’s upsetting to me that Cycling UK’s decision was both exclusionary and a surprise to us.
Bryony Clarke, Lunar Cycles member and ride leader
“Not being able to participate in sport after coming out as trans is one of my biggest fears.
“Any decision that restricts trans and non-binary people’s access to sport further damages our participation in society at a time when our rights are already under attack.
“Mostly, though, I just want to ride my bike.”
Matti Wens, Lunar Cycles member and ride leader
“As a non-binary person, I am fortunate to have ridden with groups who include minority genders such as Lunar Cycles.
“I have found the experiences uplifting and affirming, and such avenues to participation are vital in increasing diversity.”
Lunar Cycles aims to provide a inclusive space for cycling – photo: Lunar Cycles
Trans people are not the enemy. Rhetoric has become so misguided that it has put people who were never a threat in greater danger.
Choose your scapegoat: Trans folk, migrants, refugees, Muslims. But none of these groups is the problem.
Why not focus on a more realistic threat, like politicians who are cutting funding for essential public services, or multinationals that are destroying the planet.
Over 40 women across the UK have either declined the award or asked to have their names removed from past lists. This is a heartwarming and immensely important show of solidarity.
Several solidarity rides are happening across the UK. Lunar Cycles, along with All Terre, Loop Bikepacking and Roll Models, is organising one in Bristol on Sunday at 10am.
More details on our Instagram page. Please come and show your support!
Cycling has always represented freedom and liberation for women, and we will continue to fight for that – for all women and gender minorities.
This is an opinion piece by Rosie Wilson, the founder of Lunar Cycles
Main photo: Rosie Wilson
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