A new mentoring program in Wollongong aims to increase the confidence and skills of women and non-binary people to ride their bikes for active transport and leisure. 

Bicycle Buddies, an initiative of the Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (IBUG), rolled out in July with a well-attended inaugural meeting. The program works by pairing up mentors and mentees who ride together, building the mentees' bike-riding skills and confidence.

Within its first month, it has attracted 16 participants, and organisers are now looking for more. 

Rhonda Hunt, the vice president of IBUG, is leading the new program after seeing some stark gender discrepancies in the cycling community. "I noticed a few years back, and the research bears this out, that only one in three bike riders are women. Women are often more risk-averse, and may need more encouragement to ride."

And she also saw a way to tackle the problem: "I had an experience where I was able to help out a couple of women and successfully get them riding, and realised that I could expand this concept through IBUG."  

The program is tailored to the needs of participants. As Rhonda describes it: "Bicycle Buddies is an enthusiastic, friendly, suburb-based network, which pairs people up for flexible and negotiated rides on quiet local routes."

So far, the bicycle buddy pairs are fitting this mould. The very first pair, mentor Marie Ledwos of East Corrimal and mentee Kaitlyn Sturges of North Wollongong, are work colleagues who buddied up to help Kaitlyn make the most of a gifted bike. 

Kaitlyn said, "I was given my mum's bike six months ago. I rode it once, and then it ended up in the garage just gathering cobwebs. But when I met Marie, and mentioned the bike, things just went from there. Now I'm riding to and from work!"

Marie was excited too, having joined the Bicycle Buddies program only two days before finding out Kaitlyn needed a mentor: "I was at the first Bicycle Buddies meeting, when we went round the table to see who knew potential mentees. And I said: 'I don't know anyone I could mentor!' Then within two days I met Kaitlyn, who was new at my workplace, and we immediately became buddies."

Asked about what she'd learned from Marie so far, Kaitlyn said, "Marie has been really practical, giving me tips on how to set my bike up, how often to change gears, that sort of thing, and it took away a lot of the anxieties I'd had.

"Marie's also given me some good tips to ride on the road, and not just limit myself to the bike paths. Women are socialised not to take up space, and Marie's given me the skills and the permission to take up that space on the road when I need it."   

Marie added, "Since we've started riding together, Kaitlyn's skills and confidence have improved out of sight. I think what many people like Kaitlyn need is not so much the technical advice on riding, but more the moral support. We started on bike paths and then progressed to some quiet backstreets to get her riding on the road. She's developed an understanding that it's OK to own the road and not to be intimidated by other road users." 

Asked about next steps for Bicycle Buddies, IBUG's Rhonda Hunt said that all local women and non-binary people are welcome to join, as a mentor or a mentee, and can contact her directly for more information.

IBUG also campaigns for lower speed limits on local roads, more pedestrian and cycle crossings, and a more connected and convenient cycling network. Further information is available on the IBUG webpage.