Women: The Indicator Species of a Great Cycling Environment

Caption: Beauty and the Bike is a documentary and project that 

introduces teenage English girls to cycling.  Learn more here.

How do you know that your city has a great environment for biking?  An article in the Scientific American argues that the presence of women cyclists is one of the most important indicators.

How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road reports that in some of the most bike-friendly cities in Europe women make up more than 50% of riders.  The U.S. Census does not collect data for non-commuting riders but if you look at the number of women bike commuters (24%) you begin to wonder if there really is a correlation between the number of women biking and the degree to which a city is bike-friendly. 

The correlation makes sense because we know that lack of real and perceived safety is one of the biggest barriers to cycling and, as the article points out, women are generally more risk averse than men.  Therefore the presence of women cyclists should indicate a more bicycle-friendly environment. 

But more than just an indicator, having more women cyclists has a lot of positive impacts. Women run the most errands, and mothers take the most trips, so getting them out of cars could have a positive impact on air quality and reducing congestion (STPP, 1999).  We also know that about 48 percent of all trips are three miles or less--trips that could easily be done by bike (Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2008).  If we build more bike-friendly cities it will be good for women, freeing up highly coveted time to spend on other aspects of their daily lives and it will also be good for everyone else.

Sources: 

1. United States Census Bureau. Sex of Workers by Means of Transportation to Work (American Community Survey 2006-2008).

2. Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. (1999).  High Mileage Moms

3. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. (2008). Active Transportation for America:

A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking