Female cyclists in West Yorkshire have reported feeling unsafe due to verbal abuse, sexual comments, and close passes from motorists.

Judith Brough, a cyclist with nearly 30 years of experience, highlights the need for a safe cycling environment, advocating for women to cycle alone without fear.

Jillian Egan, another cyclist, notes that the significant abuse faced by women is discouraging many from participating in cycling.

The police are expanding their JogOn initiative, which combats harassment in all sports, to include cycling, promoting a zero tolerance policy.

The Highway Code mandates that drivers maintain a 5ft gap when overtaking cyclists, a rule that is frequently violated.

West Yorkshire Police reviewed 3,561 close pass incidents from April 2024 to April 2025, taking action in 2,547 cases against offending drivers.

Both Egan and Leveton agree that the hostile environment for female cyclists, including both in-person and online abuse, is a major barrier to participation.

Frankie Leveton, a 30-year-old cyclist from Huddersfield, emphasizes that safety concerns have led many women to avoid cycling altogether.

Leveton has experienced sexualized harassment while cycling and reported over 100 incidents of close passing by drivers to the police in the past year.

Brough experiences harassment on one out of every three rides, including inappropriate comments and close passes from drivers.

In response to these issues, West Yorkshire Police is committed to addressing harassment through education and potential punitive measures for serious offenses.