More women on bikes means healthierbike facilities for all. (Photo: boxchain via
Flickr)
Are you a woman who rides a bicycle? Or are you a woman who would
like to ride a bicycle? Then the Association
of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) needs you to
participate in a survey
about women and girls and bicycling. (If you’re not a woman, perhaps
you know a few females who fit into these categories.) It takes about
10-15 minutes to complete. And the data will provide useful information
for planners about why women cycle — and why they don’t.
The issue of women and cycling has gotten increasing attention over
the last few months, in large part because of an article in Scientific
American that discussed the idea of women as an “indicator species”
for healthy cycling environments. In the US, what they indicate is not
great — men riding bicycles outnumber women by two to one. Women, it
turns out, are statistically less likely to ride in places that lack
adequate protections for people on bicycles. In European countries with
good cycling infrastructure, such as the Netherlands, this
gender disparity doesn’t exist. Things could be different here,
too, if planners change their attitudes.
To support people around the country working to encourage women
cyclists, the APBP is also hosting a webinar titled “Writing Women Back
Into Bicycling” on March 31. Participation is free. It should be a
great chance to get ideas and resources from some dedicated advocates
and researchers about how to get more women riding the streets and roads
of America. Which would be a great thing for everyone.
