sahyk gap
noun
A gap between two objects on a cycling route.
Example usage: I'm looking for a cycle gap to get to the other side of the street.
Most used in: Urban and suburban cycling environments.
Most used by: Commuters and recreational cyclists.
Popularity: 8/10
Comedy Value: 5/10
Also see: Paceline, Drafting, Slipstreaming, Wheel Suckers,
What is a Cycle Gap?
A cycle gap is a term used to describe the disparity in cycling infrastructure, education, and promotion between different countries, regions, or cities. This lack of investment in cycling leads to fewer people cycling, and more people relying on motorised transport for their day-to-day travel.
In Europe, for example, there is a big cycle gap between countries like the Netherlands and Denmark, where cycling is a major form of transport, and countries like Portugal and Greece, where cycling is much less popular. This gap is reflected in the percentage of people cycling to work and other trips - in the Netherlands, this figure is 27%, while in Portugal it is just 1%.
The cycle gap also exists within cities. For example, in London there are large disparities between different boroughs in terms of cycling infrastructure, promotion, and education. This gap can be seen in the number of people cycling to work and other trips - in the borough of Hackney, the figure is 14%, while in the borough of Lambeth it is just 3%.
The cycle gap has a number of negative consequences, including higher levels of air pollution, increased congestion, and poorer health outcomes. The good news is that many cities and countries are now investing in cycling infrastructure, education, and promotion in an effort to reduce the cycle gap and make cycling a viable option for all.
.Tracing the Origin of the Term “Cycle Gap”
The term “cycle gap” is a phrase used in the context of cycling to describe the gap between those who have access to cycling and those who don’t. It was first used in 2000 in the United Kingdom in the context of a report on sustainable transport.
The report, entitled “The Cycle Gap: An Analysis of the Barriers to Cycling”, was commissioned by the Department for Transport and the Environment and was written by the Institute for European Environmental Policy. The report highlighted the need to improve access to cycling for those who did not have it, and suggested ways in which this could be achieved.
Since then, the term “cycle gap” has become widely used in the cycling community to refer to the differences in access to cycling between different groups of people. It is often used in discussions of ways to make cycling more accessible to all, such as through better infrastructure, improved safety measures, and better education and training.
The term “cycle gap” is now used worldwide and has become an important part of cycling discourse. It has become a key part of discussions around the need to make cycling more accessible and equitable, and to create a world in which everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of cycling.
