Increasing the Visibility of Invisibly Disabled Cyclists: A Personal Account from a Deaf Cyclist

This is an accepted article with a DOI pre-assigned that is not yet published.Visibility and representation are necessary factors in supporting Disabled people’s access to cycling. The visibility of Disabled cyclists in policy, such as images of non-standard cycles, is paramount to ensuring Disabled cyclists are considered in practice. Furthermore, if Disabled people see themselves reflected in the cycling population this will encourage participation. However, the issue of visibility and representation becomes more complex when it comes to cyclists with invisible disabilities. Most ride a standard two-wheeled bicycle and therefore will be exempt from the specific barriers faced by non-standard cycles. Additionally, because cyclists with invisible disabilities are, by definition, less visible, their experiences are often less represented. Both factors contribute to limited understanding on how the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling for people with invisible disabilities can be realised. The author begins to address this gap by reflecting on her personal experience as a cyclist with an invisible disability. Through charting the benefits and the barriers, the author concludes that further research is needed to understand how to best facilitate access to cycling for invisibly Disabled people.