Birmingham's cycling community have hit back at a in an activity which she said was mainly the preserve of young white men.
Coun Deirdre Alden (Cons, ) said the Birmingham Cycle Revolution fund, which will partly be used to make major commuter routes like Hagley Road and Bristol Road more bike friendly, including the elderly and women from ethnic minority groups who wore modest clothing.
She was subjected to a while members of the cycling fraternity have leapt to its defence, prompting Coun Alden to further explain her comments.
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Coun Alden pointed out that not enough money was being spent on widening participation in cycling and that she had now seen an equality impact assessment.
"It states there are plans to encourage female and less confident cyclists onto off road routes and names the canal tow path network as an example. That is positive," she added.
"The document then immediately adds that there are no plans to spend money installing lighting along the tow paths which are currently mostly only lit around Gas Street Basin.
"Cycling along an unlit, potentially quiet path on a winter's evening holds risks of its own, albeit not traffic related ones.
"But the alternative suggested in the Equality Impact Assessment is there will be lit on-road alternatives to the tow path - which is exactly what less confident cyclists may be trying to avoid."
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She also questioned the policy of giving away 2,000 free bikes to people with no measures in place to ensure they were not sold on.
The cycle lobby have hit back at her earlier comments, arguing that, by making the city's streets safer for cycling, they would attract more people.
Phil Jones, who is advising Transport for London on urban cycling, said: "Cycling is generally biased towards athletic young men at the moment - but that is predominantly because of the current conditions for cyclists, not because other groups including women and the elderly don't want to cycle.
"Women are generally more risk averse than most men, therefore less women choose to cycle. It would therefore be discriminatory not to address the issue."
He said that in other countries such as the Netherlands, where cyclists are given their own road space, the participation was much more diverse.
Catherine Palgrave, of Birmingham Friends of the Earth, pointed out that private motor cars can be described as discriminatory due to the cost involved.
She added: "There is only one way to increase low numbers of cycling in the city, and truly make it a form of transport for all Brummies.
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"This is to invest in cycling infrastructure, which makes cycling safer and more appealing, and at the same time cutting congestion and helping clean-up the city's air."
Yvonne Gilligan of green transport campaign group Sustrans added: "Contrary to the comments made this week, the great thing about cycling is that it's accessible for everyone, regardless of age, gender or background.
"Cycling is an antidote to the discrimination that does exist in Birmingham's transport system.
"With many people unable to afford the rising cost of car ownership and public transport, cycling can provide affordable access to jobs, health care and social services.
"The key to success is to bringing Birmingham's infrastructure up to a standard where it safe and accessible enough for everyone aged eight to 80 years old and the only way to achieve this is through dedicated and on-going investment in cycling.
"While many cyclists are young men, many of us are from backgrounds as diverse as the community we live in - it's a great joy to see people of all shapes and sizes taking to the bike as we work towards a greener, healthier and safer city."
Finally, Green Party spokesman Andrew Walton said: "With the benefits of cycling going way beyond just the health of those doing it, with congestion being eased, less air and noise pollution, the Green Party believes that investing in it should be a major priority for the for years to come."