Two Southwark activists have been included in a list of 100 women who are being celebrated for their efforts to promote cycling.
Hala Mkhallalati and Lorraine Liyanage join actress Maxine Peake, BBC Radio 4 presenter Melanie Abbott and gold medal winners Katie Archibald and Elinor Barke in Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling list.
Hala and Lorraine, who both only learned to cycle as adults, are being recognised for their work promoting cycling among women at a grassroots level.
Lorraine first got on a bike in her 40s and now cycles everywhere. She promotes cycling on social media and is one of Cycling UK’s digital champions.
Hala, 31, learned how to cycle two years ago. She now volunteers and serves as a trustee for The Bike Project, a Southwark-based charity that gives bicycles to refugees.
More women have taken up cycling since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, but men are still much more likely to cycle.
Sarah Mitchell, Cycling UK chief executive, said: “Congratulations to Hala and Lorraine for making it into our 100 Women in Cycling in 2021. It’s an incredible achievement and testimony to the tireless work they’ve done to raise the profile of women’s cycling.
“Every woman on our list is a powerful ambassador for women’s cycling, and many have done outstanding work supporting women to cycle during lockdown. But sadly, women remain underrepresented when it comes to everyday cycling.
“During this year’s festival we’re asking every woman who already cycles to find just one more woman they can help and inspire to get on their bike.”