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Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on June 17, 2014 at 4:13am

This makes me so sad. I do wonder if the private bike disparity is lower, at least commuter-wise. But it just makes me sad. Especially when it is continuously blamed on things like "women are just too scared to ride in traffic!" or "women don't want to wear helmets because they're too vain!" 

I really think the issues are much more deep seated and less superficial than that, but no one really wants to look into it. 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on June 17, 2014 at 5:06am

This study shows that 60 percent of bicycle owners between the ages of 18-27 are women. Interesting dynamic between labeling people as bike owners vs bike riders.

http://momentummag.com/features/women-lead-the-way-for-future-growt...

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Permalink Reply by Jim Shaw on June 17, 2014 at 5:53am

Didn't see this thread when I started my own on the same topic. Here's what I posted:

 

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/why-women-dont-cycle/

 

The 538 website explores the research on this issue and finds that "fashion" issues run a distant third to safety and childcare responsibilities, and suggests an additional issue, income disparity with men.

 

Researchers found that for the bike-share programs in New York, Chicago and Boston only 24.7% of riders are women. Other research indicates that in the U.S. about 24% of bike trips are made by women, whereas in Germany it's 49%, Netherlands 55%.

 

The article highlights these issues: women are more concerned with "stranger attacks", and the "inability to carry children or other passengers" than men. It also suggests that cost (and income disparity with men) is a factor.

 

Jim

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 17, 2014 at 6:49am

I have volunteered for CDOT bike traffic counts. The private bike disparity is also significant. For downtown and near-downtown bike commute locations, the percentage of women among the total is typically around 25-30%. Sad but true. The disparity is even greater on the far south side (where I often ride) on major streets connecting neighborhoods - like Vincennes. When I ride there, it's not unusual for me to see male cyclists but NO female cyclists.

Michelle Milham said:

This makes me so sad. I do wonder if the private bike disparity is lower, at least commuter-wise. But it just makes me sad. Especially when it is continuously blamed on things like "women are just too scared to ride in traffic!" or "women don't want to wear helmets because they're too vain!" 

I really think the issues are much more deep seated and less superficial than that, but no one really wants to look into it. 

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on June 17, 2014 at 6:50am

Thanks for the info! good to know. I think I tend to commute in an area that may have more women than is the norm.



Anne Alt said:

I have volunteered for CDOT bike traffic counts. The private bike disparity is also significant. For downtown and near-downtown bike commute locations, the percentage of women among the total is typically around 25-30%. Sad but true. The disparity is even greater on the far south side (where I often ride) on major streets connecting neighborhoods - like Vincennes. When I ride there, it's not unusual for me to see male cyclists but NO female cyclists.

Michelle Milham said:

This makes me so sad. I do wonder if the private bike disparity is lower, at least commuter-wise. But it just makes me sad. Especially when it is continuously blamed on things like "women are just too scared to ride in traffic!" or "women don't want to wear helmets because they're too vain!" 

I really think the issues are much more deep seated and less superficial than that, but no one really wants to look into it. 

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Milham on June 17, 2014 at 6:54am

I also think it would be an interesting study to ask the women who own bikes but don't ride why THAT is, since clearly the desire is there but they aren't riding.

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Permalink Reply by Josh L. on June 17, 2014 at 3:02pm

As another data point, anecdotal at that,  my female  friends will ride recreationally but don't commute because of safety concerns. They have not had an accident but have heard about the serious biker injuries that happen.  

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Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on February 7, 2016 at 5:52am

Another reason for fewer women riders is that many women have to act as chauffeur for kids, often doing this in combination with other errands or their work commute.  This keeps them chained to cars.

Because so many of us live in sprawling suburbs or urban neighborhoods divided by car sewers, kids can't safely walk to play with friends or go to school.  Although men can drive kids around, too, as with most family responsibilities, women still tend to do more.

If the kids could get around safely by themselves, it would be easier for Mom to be free of driving.  In fact, this is how life once was in many towns (including where I grew up). The women in my family walked or biked to do little errands or visit friends.  I walked or biked to school.  I was never driven to a "play date"; I just met up with other kids in parks or at our homes.  We did all this because we could.

Now we are in a driving death spiral.  It's not safe for kids to walk to school because there is too much car traffic, so we drive them to school, which in turn creates more car traffic...

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 7, 2016 at 6:04am

I agree. We are too car-dependent as a society. With better bike infrastructure we could change. Another option - women and men can ride their kids to school with a cargo bike. There are different options and many schools are close enough to home for this to be a realistic option. 

http://piximus.net/others/how-to-take-six-kids-to-school-with-a-bike

I do know women in Chicago that have chosen a bike option rather than an SUV or minivan. 

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Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on February 8, 2016 at 3:49am

This is old data -- the article is from 2014, befor Divvy expanded to 475 stations.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 8, 2016 at 3:58am

Thanks John! Is there any new information you can point us to on the topic? 

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