Beauty and the Bike

Why Do Girls Stop Cycling?

Our project is founded on the fact that girls in cycling friendly countries continue to cycle into adulthood, whilst in other countries – like the UK – they tend to give up during the teenage years. Why?



Some of the participants in the project are featured on this site. Feel free to explore some of the short clips that will contribute to the documentary film, and some of the background to the work.

Lauren Pyrah’s Story

Back in Darlington after a wonderful and informative trip to Bremen, the girls in the project now find out if their cycling habits can become permanent in Darlington – even when our cycling infrastructure is still in its infancy.

This short video edit follows one of the girls, Lauren Pyrah, from her original interview in July 2008 to her current impressions, now she has been to a cycling-friendly city and returned to Darlington.



Lauren has hired one of the Velodarlo Dutch Bikes. She uses it every day while she is working for the Northern Echo.