Bicycles and women’s rights: Two Wheels and Scandalous Ankles

Bicycles and women's rights

Today, the bicycle is mostly a symbol of fitness or leisurely Sunday rides through the countryside. But once upon a Victorian morning, it was a revolutionary device—one that sent shockwaves through polite society. Not because of speed or engineering genius, but because it gave women the horrifying freedom to go places, unchaperoned, with ankles exposed to the elements. Naturally, this was deemed dangerous. Possibly even immoral.

The Bicycle Boom That Terrified the Establishment

The late 19th century saw a global cycling boom, as the “safety bicycle” emerged—lighter, faster, and with less chance of flinging its rider over the front wheel. Unlike the bone-shattering penny-farthings before it, this new design was actually rideable by women. And suddenly, women were everywhere—pedalling through parks, gliding past churches, and, most alarmingly, going where they pleased.

For the first time, a respectable lady could travel several miles without a carriage, without a man, and without requiring permission. Independence on two wheels. The horror.

How Bicycles Empowered the Women’s Movement

Susan B. Anthony, never one to understate, declared in 1896: “I think [the bicycle] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” High praise for a humble machine. But she had a point.

With a bicycle, women weren’t just mobile. They were self-sufficient. They could ride to work, to political meetings, or to scandalous places like cafés without needing a brother or a horse. The world suddenly got bigger.

And that sense of freedom translated into political momentum. Women cyclists became visible symbols of the suffrage movement. Photographs of suffragists on bikes circulated widely, often with slogans or banners fluttering in the wind. The message was clear: we’re not sitting still.

What’s This About Ankles?

Victorian society had strict codes of decorum, especially regarding female fashion. Women were expected to wear voluminous skirts, corsets, and enough fabric to curtain a theatre. But these things were… problematic on a bike.

So, rational dress emerged. Think bloomers, divided skirts, and jackets that allowed actual movement. It wasn’t just practical—it was revolutionary. Because with new clothes came a new silhouette: legs. Ankles. Calves.

Predictably, moralists lost their minds. Cartoons ridiculed “bloomer girls,” and clergymen warned that bicycles were leading women down a slippery slope toward masculinity, moral decay, and possibly syphilis (everything led to syphilis back then, apparently).

Cycling and the End of the Corset

One overlooked benefit of bicycles? They may have helped kill off the corset. You simply couldn’t pedal uphill in a whalebone prison. Women began abandoning them in favour of more breathable alternatives, and not just for cycling. Everyday fashion began to shift.

The bicycle offered literal and metaphorical breathing room. It wasn’t just about getting from A to B. It was about reclaiming a body previously compressed, padded, and laced into submission.

Did Society Push Back?

Aggressively. Medical professionals warned that cycling could cause infertility, facial contortions, and something called “bicycle face”—a grim expression allegedly caused by exertion and concentration. Newspapers published alarming reports of women becoming too independent, even too muscular.

In reality, they were just annoyed that women weren’t staying home.

Still, the backlash was intense. Some clubs banned women. Others permitted them but only if they followed decorum (read: slow, modest, and preferably invisible). Cycling magazines published etiquette guides for lady riders, including charming suggestions like “always carry smelling salts” and “do not smile at men while riding.”

How Women Fought Back on Two Wheels

Women did what they’ve always done when told to stay put: they ignored it. Cycling clubs sprang up specifically for women. Publications like The Woman’s Signal promoted cycling as a form of female empowerment. Some brave souls cycled across entire countries. Annie Londonderry famously cycled around the entire world in 1894–95, carrying advertising banners for sponsors and a pistol in her waistband.

She wasn’t just challenging gender roles. She was monetising her fame, way before influencers were a thing.

Bicycles as Symbols of Suffrage

The suffrage movement was quick to adopt the bicycle as both tool and metaphor. Posters, songs, and speeches linked pedal power with political power. After all, the right to vote and the right to move freely were both forms of autonomy. Why fight for one and not the other?

Even the language started to merge. Suffragists described themselves as being “on the road” to rights, “riding out” old ideas. The imagery of the cyclist—unfettered, forward-moving, visibly unbothered by criticism—became a visual shorthand for progress.

Global Impacts: The Bicycle Revolution Goes International

In the UK, the US, and parts of Europe, bicycles became a visible part of women’s liberation. But the trend wasn’t confined to the West. In India, women began cycling as a statement against colonial expectations. In Japan, the bicycle became a way for schoolgirls to assert independence.

Wherever they went, bicycles disrupted the existing order. They gave young women the chance to explore, work, and imagine a future that didn’t involve going straight from their father’s house to their husband’s parlour.

Are Modern Bikes Still Feminist?

These days, the political symbolism may not be as obvious—but it’s still there. Access to a bicycle remains a crucial factor in girls’ education in many developing countries. Projects that distribute bikes to girls in rural areas have been shown to reduce drop-out rates and increase safety on the journey to school.

In cities, too, cycling infrastructure often neglects women’s safety concerns. Better lighting, protected lanes, and bike storage can disproportionately benefit female riders. So while the bloomers and moral panic may be history, the fight for two-wheeled equality continues.

So, Next Time You See a Woman on a Bike…

Remember that she’s participating in a long tradition of rebellion. She’s thumbing her nose at a world that once tried to say no, you can’t go there. She’s echoing the spirit of women who redefined public space, one pedal at a time.

Yes, it might look like a Lycra-clad commute—but under the surface, it’s revolutionary.

Sign up to Interessia Weekly

Free weekly newsletter

Every Thursday we send you stories worth slowing down for—culture, heritage, cities, and curiosities, straight to your inbox

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Post Comment