The most common unsolicited remarks I’ve received question whether this choice is safe for me and my unborn bub. You’d think this concern would apply whether I’m pregnant or not. But, no, it’s a natural extension of the "pregnant person as public property" phenomenon where strangers regularly ignore our bodily autonomy to freely touch, comment on and give advice about pregnant bodies: what we should eat or drink, and how to behave. I'm not alone: one friend who continued riding while she was pregnant was told by an onlooker that “now the umbilical cord will be wrapped around your baby’s neck and they will die”. While it might be well-meaning, when non-riders question my choices, if anything, it fuels my feminist fire and I feel more determined to continue to commute by bike – rain, hail or shine – no matter how big my preggie belly. I want my kid to grow up in a world where women are respected whether they are pregnant or not, and aren’t judged for the choices they make about their bodies. The most common unsolicited remarks ... are to question my judgment and whether this choice is safe for me and my unborn bub. I saw a bloke ride past me the other day with a jersey that read “I’m somebody’s dad”. You can imagine what this guy has experienced to prompt him to make that kind of statement. While I have received the odd “get a car” comment shouted out a window, my male, Lycra-clad friends are probably copping more hostile abuse because they appear as a "type" to frustrated drivers stuck in traffic. Distracted drivers – particularly those on mobile phones – are a big worry too.

My experiences of hyper-concern have shown me that, as much as we cyclists remind people of our vulnerability on two wheels, blunt symbols of riders’ humanity might be a better wake up call for drivers. Whether in the form of a message about being a dad on your back, or a large, round pregnant belly on your front, I hope more people take care when driving and give those of us on bikes enough space. Loading I can understand the concern to some extent – I choose a route of back streets and bike paths, and I know how lucky I am to live and work in areas with excellent bike infrastructure. We need to continue to improve the journey for people on bikes across the suburbs to provide safe options, including separated bike lanes and bike paths where possible. Research has shown safer routes reach gender balance in riders, with women more likely to opt for them to avoid hairy, close shaves with cars. Where there aren’t options that feel safe, women are more likely to leave their bike in the garage. I would love for all women – pregnant or not – to comfortably ride to the station, the shops and other short trips. Much as we remind people of our vulnerability on two wheels, blunt symbols of riders’ humanity might be a better wake up call for drivers.