Women's Safety in Traffic

I asked the same question (as the OP) in the cycle training thread a while back. It can be really difficult trying to mention this to other cyclists- especially female ones, as I do not want to come across as a patronizing bellend giving unsolicited advise, potentially giving more reason for them to give up on their bikes.

A few things that have happened:

(i)
Riding North bound over Tower Bridge and saw a woman that looked like someone I knew. After loads of squinting she went went one way, me the other. I shook my head at the resemblance to myself. She saw me shake my head and screamed at me "what my fucking problem was??!?"
I shouted how much she looked like someone I know. We laughed and she apologised as she sheepishly as she rode off.

This is when I noticed the worst of a female's perspective. She was so mad with rage at the thought I might have been dissing her riding.

(ii)
I rode down Mile End Rd a few weeks ago and cyclist did something really daft down the side of a bus. When I raised the issue (she) pulled off her headphones with that WTF do you want vibe. Before I could finish my brief point she put them back on and continued riding.
It left me wishing I could hand her an image of the horror site where the cyclist had died on tower Bridge Rd/crucifix Lane to shock her with rather than have her look at me like like she stepped in something and practically blank me.

(iii)
I do the cycle training for Serco, the folk behind the London cycle hire scheme and had a myth absolutely busted:
2 of 7 of the young men I trained were very very worried about riding on the road- something I'd have bet my moots would be more likely to be a female point of view.

Originally Posted by JonoMarshall
"Get more girls cycling at a young age, often tween/teen girls seem to stop cycling until a later age where as many tween/teen boys will take the hobby further throughout adolescents, giving them more confidence and (sometimes) better bike handling skills."

Good point. Despite all of the cycle training I do in schools there will be very few children taking it up: Biggest reason?
Mums and Dads ( and to a lesser degree, teachers) do not take cycle training seriously themselves and will be the biggest bar to kids riding, citing things like, 'it's too dangerous'.

I'm looking to start some schemes that will focus specifically on the parents and teachers getting back on bikes and riding to school to show that it is not inherently dangerous.