Skip to main content

How to Navigate Men in Politics — A Women Cyclist's Survival Guide

You will encounter men who dismiss cycling infrastructure, talk over you in meetings, and treat your safety as optional. This toolkit gives you specific tactics to get what you need despite them.

The 7 Male Archetypes You Will Meet (and How to Handle Each)​

1. The Dismisser — "Cycling is not a priority"​

What he does: Waves away cycling proposals as unimportant. Prioritises roads, flyovers, metros.

Your counter:

  • Pull out the Economic Case for Women's Cycling: "Every ₹1 in cycling returns ₹5-11. Every ₹1 in car infrastructure returns ₹0.40-0.80. I'm asking for the smarter investment."
  • Name the numbers: "There are 48,000 women commuters in this ward. Zero safe cycling lanes. I'd like to understand why."
  • Never argue emotion. Argue numbers. Men who dismiss cycling dismiss feelings — they cannot dismiss data.

2. The Patroniser — "Let me explain why that won't work"​

What he does: Talks over you. Explains your own proposal back to you incorrectly. Calls you "dear" or "madam."

Your counter:

  • Interrupt with precision: "Thank you, Councillor. I'd like to return to the specific proposal on page 3."
  • Use their name: "Mr. Sharma, the data I'm presenting comes from the WHO HEAT tool. Let me walk you through it."
  • Bring a male ally: Have a supportive man in your group who can say "I think she was making an excellent point. Let her finish."
  • Write everything down and read it back: "Just to confirm — you said cycling infrastructure is not feasible for Ward 12. I'll note that for the follow-up. Can I get that in writing?"

3. The Delayer — "We'll look into it"​

What he does: Agrees politely but never acts. "Very good suggestion. We will consider." Nothing happens.

Your counter:

  • Pin a date: "Thank you. When can we expect the feasibility report? Can we set a follow-up meeting for March 15?"
  • RTI (Right to Information): File an RTI asking: "What cycling infrastructure projects have been approved for this ward in the last 3 years? What is the budget allocation?"
  • Public commitment: Get him to say it at a public meeting or on camera. "Can you confirm that you'll include cycling lanes in the next ward budget?"
  • Paper trail: Send a follow-up email: "As discussed on [date], you agreed to [specific action] by [date]. Looking forward to the update."

4. The Budget Blocker — "There's no money"​

What he does: Claims the budget doesn't exist. May be true. Often isn't.

Your counter:

  • Show costs: "A bollard-separated cycling lane costs ₹8-15 lakh per km. The flyover you approved last month cost ₹180 crore. I'm asking for 0.1% of that budget."
  • Reference CSR funds: Companies are required to spend 2% of profits on CSR. Cycling infrastructure qualifies. Bring a list of local companies.
  • Central government schemes: Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, and National Urban Transport Policy all include cycling infrastructure funding.
  • Ward-level discretionary funds: Most councillors have ₹2-5 crore in discretionary development funds. A cycling lane is well within that.

5. The Whataboutist — "What about pedestrians/buses/traffic?"​

What he does: Deflects to other problems to avoid addressing yours.

Your counter:

  • "Cycling infrastructure helps pedestrians too. Protected lanes reduce pedestrian accidents by 28% (NACTO, 2019). So let's do both."
  • "I'm not asking you to choose. I'm asking you to add 2% of the transport budget for cycling. The other 98% handles the rest."
  • Never accept the false binary. Cycling infrastructure doesn't compete with other transport — it complements it.

6. The Safety Denier — "Women can take the bus"​

What he does: Suggests cycling is inherently unsafe for women and they should use "safer" alternatives.

Your counter:

  • "Buses have a 34% harassment rate for women (Safetipin, 2023). Cycling gives women independent, on-demand transport with no stranger contact."
  • "The danger is the infrastructure, not the bicycle. Copenhagen has more women cyclists than men because they built protected lanes."
  • "By that logic, you should also tell women not to walk. The solution is safe streets, not restricted lives."

7. The Ally (Yes, They Exist)​

What he does: Genuinely supports cycling infrastructure. May not know how to help.

Your ask:

  • "Can you champion this proposal in the next council meeting?"
  • "Can you co-sign this letter to the transport commissioner?"
  • "Can you allocate ₹X from your ward budget for a pilot cycling lane on [specific street]?"
  • Give him credit publicly. Allies who get public recognition become stronger allies.

Meeting Preparation Checklist​

Before any political meeting, prepare:

  • One-page proposal with specific ask (street name, length, cost, timeline)
  • Printed Street Audit Scorecard for the target street with photos
  • Cost comparison: your proposal cost vs. recent road/flyover project costs
  • Petition or signatures from women in the ward (even 50 signatures matter)
  • 3+ women present (never go alone — numbers communicate seriousness)
  • One male ally (if available — reduces dismissal)
  • Phone recording (legal in India for your own record — inform them you're recording)
  • Follow-up email drafted ready to send immediately after the meeting

Power Phrases​

Use these exact phrases in meetings:

SituationSay This
Being interrupted"I'd like to finish my point, Councillor."
Being dismissed"I understand your concern. Let me show you the data."
Getting vague promises"Can we agree on a specific date for the next step?"
Being told no budget"The cost is ₹X. Can you show me where the ward budget currently goes?"
Being patronised"I appreciate the explanation. Here's what the WHO data actually says."
Meeting going nowhere"Let me summarise what we've agreed so far and what the next steps are."
Facing hostility"I'm here as a taxpayer asking for safe infrastructure. I expect a professional response."

After the Meeting​

  1. Send the follow-up email within 24 hours — summarise commitments, attach your proposal
  2. File RTI if needed — "What is the status of cycling infrastructure allocation for Ward X?"
  3. Social media — Post a positive update: "Met Councillor X today about cycling safety in Ward Y. Looking forward to progress." (Public accountability without confrontation)
  4. Build the coalition — Connect with other women, resident welfare associations, cycling groups
  5. Set calendar reminder for follow-up date — do not let promises die
  • RTI (Right to Information Act): Free. File online at rtionline.gov.in. Responses required within 30 days.
  • Ward committee meetings: In many cities, citizens can attend and speak at ward committee meetings. Check your municipal corporation website.
  • Public Interest Litigation (PIL): If infrastructure repeatedly fails, PILs have been used to force cycling lane construction (Pune HC, 2019).
  • Consumer complaints: If road tax is collected but cycling infrastructure not provided, some advocates have filed consumer complaints.

See Also​