A London council has sparked fury after its claims backing hundreds more e-bikes would “help women with their domestic responsibilities” and “stay looking ‘nice’”.
Kingston Council made the remarks in an equality impact assessment (EQIA) as part of a wider project looking at expanding the borough’s e-bike offering.
In the report, the Liberal Democrat council said: “Electric bikes may increase women’s access to cycling and physical activity by making it easier for women to meet their traditional domestic responsibilities, as well as stay looking ‘nice’ on a bike.”
It also said e-bikes are “challenging sexism” by “making bike retail and repair environments more inclusive for women, challenging sexism in bike design and marketing and increasing women’s sense of confidence and entitlement to occupy the road space”.
Following backlash from residents the council removed the quote, which it said had been taken directly from an academic paper, and apologised “for any offence caused”.
The assessment, which was published on 4 June, was met with ridicule from Kingston residents, with one describing it as “stereotypical and inappropriate”.
Another posted on Facebook: “Kingston Council E-Bike sexist horror,” according to the Evening Standard.
“This is from the Equalities Impact Assessment for the move to increase to 500 ebikes across Kingston going to Place Committee,”
“OMG.
“Weep, women of Kingston; weep!”
The fury prompted councillors to launch an investigation into how the paragraph came to be published.
“We would like to sincerely apologise for this error and for any offence caused,” Kingston Council said in a statement on its website. “We are committed to fairness and equality of opportunity, working with communities and partners to ensure Kingston is a place where we celebrate diversity, tackle inequality and strive to ensure that everyone feels safe, valued, and heard.”
It added: “From our investigations into how this happened we understand this description was a direct quote from a peer reviewed academic paper which was used as part of the research to inform the assessment.
“While the research quoted highlights how the availability of e-bikes is challenging sexism and making cycling more accessible for some women, we accept that using the quote, especially in isolation and without reference, is likely to cause offence, therefore it should never have been included in the EQIA.”
Kingston Council has been contacted for comment.
