10:00pm Monday 8th June 2009
By Katy Islip
WOMEN are being encouraged to lace up their walking boots and saddle up.
Sustainable transport charity Sustrans is launching an appeal for more female volunteers to help support walking and cycling routes across the UK.
Around 600 women already volunteer with Sustrans, and spend a total of 32,500 hours each year working to help maintain routes and enable people to get out and active in their local area.
But they are outnumbered three to one by Sustrans’ male volunteers, a balance the charity is keen to redress.
Katie Aartse-Tuyn, Sustrans’ volunteer coordinator, says: “We are fortunate to have the help of a great team of volunteers, and are always ready to welcome new people to the team, men and women alike.
“We’re particularly keen to encourage more involvement from women. They are vital role models to help us get the message out there that active, environmentally-friendly methods of travel are for everyone.”
Volunteer roles with Sustrans include fundraising, representing the charity at events, promoting cycling in schools and joining the ranger team which helps maintain local sections of the National Cycle Network, which now covers 12,000 miles across the UK.
Katie says: “There really is something to suit everyone, no matter how much or little time people can offer us.
“Our advice for women is to give it a go. You’ll have the chance to make new friends, get more active and know that you’re making a positive difference.”
In south east Essex, volunteers help maintain routes including Basildon by Bike and the Southend to Shoebury route.
Last November Southend Council announced ambitious plans to turn the town into a cycling centre, and over the next three years will be investing £6.4million in improving and linking existing routes and creating new cycle paths.
Anna Waite, Southend councillor responsible for transport and planning says:“It’s a brilliant idea. Getting more mothers out there and cycling means more children will be cycling too. This will eventually result in a generation of people who love cycling.
“It will help raise the profile of cycling, especially as something that is done by sensible people to get from A to B.”
Sustrans’ push to attract more female volunteers ties in with its Bike Belles campaign, which is aiming to get more women into cycling after a survey revealed 79 per cent of women in Britain never get on a bike, despite 49 per cent having access to one.
To find out more about the volunteer opportunities in your area call 0117 9150110, e-mail volunteers-uk @sustrans.org.uk or visit www. sustrans.org.uk and click on support Sustrans.
For more information on Bike Belles visit www.bikebelles.org.uk To request a map for the Basildon by Bike route call Essex County Council on 0845 7430430. To request a map for routes in Southend call 01702 215321 or visit www.southend.gov.uk/cycling
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