Fatima thinks of cycling as being part of both her personal and professional life. She said, "I love the freedom cycling gives me and the healthier, cleaner option it represents when travelling around London. Cycling keeps me fit and removes all my stress to have a more positive, fun outlook on life." She works for the London Borough of Hounslow where she is responsible for cycle training and promotion.
I love the freedom cycling gives me and the healthier, cleaner option it represents when travelling around London. Cycling keeps me fit and removes all my stress to have a more positive, fun outlook on life.
Fatima Ahmed
It's no coincidence that at the same time Fatima's cycling life began, the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH) also saw a significant increase in the number of participants to their Adult Cycle training sessions. Back in 2016/17 there were just under 100 adults attending, but under Fatima's watch participants have jumped to 1,686 over the last year.
Encouragingly, over 80% the participants are women and from ethnic minority backgrounds, with a huge age range from 16 – 82. LBH is doing everything they can to create an environment for inclusive cycling. The borough is now looking to invest in adapted bikes and setting up weekly drop in sessions in September in support of this strategy. In addition there are women only weekly bike rides on offer. Recently the women only group had a naming ceremony, and are now known as the Hounslow Biking Belles, and are a regular sight in the borough dressed in their pink Hounslow Biking Belles tabards.
The Hounslow Biking Belles WhatsApp group consists of over 100 members who share all their personal cycling news and achievements.
Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to cycle.
