5 states where women cyclists are almost extinct

[Biciclista]

Women cyclists almost extinct in some states

The most dismal U.S. states to bike in, if we count simply by the number of women declaring to the census that they use a bike to get to work, are Mississippi, Delaware, West Virginia, Alabama, and Arkansas. Puerto Rico, also surveyed on the question, was similarly quite dismal. Mississippi had just 209 declared female cycling commuters, Delaware just 210, while West Virginia had 326, Alabama had 431, and Arkansas had 461. Puerto Rico declared 318 female cyclists. While none of these states lost female cyclists since 2003 (in 2000 the data for cycling commuters is not sex separated), the gains are vanishingly small.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009...arely-bike.php

[malkin]

Interesting.
Maybe more women in those states don't work at jobs where they need to commute?

[OakLeaf]

I'd been wondering where GraysonKelly had got to. Paging GraysonKelly, one in 326...

[lo123]

Alabama cyclist here, though not a commuter.
A lot of roads in my city are not conducive to commuting, and the drivers are hostile to cyclists. I'd LOVE to commute to my office which is only 7 miles away, but there are no safe roads for me to do so. Not to mention my employer doesn't really have any facilities to shower (necessary because the # of significant hills I'd have to tackle)/dress/store my bike. Technically, I could do it, but I'd feel like I was risking life and limb to do it, and that's for someone with a pretty high risk tolerance.

I notice that the states listed are less likely to have bike lanes (outside of college towns). In fact, some road construction/improvement in the area is being stalled because the community comments have been that the speeds on the roads are too high for bike lanes even though the Federal Highway department wants to add bike lanes.

We need more advocacy and support from local businesses before commuting becomes viable here.

[Becky]

Delaware cyclist and commuter here.

On one hand, I'm surprised by the article. It seems like I see more and more cyclists every day. It didn't seem like the article took state populations into account, but focused on discrete numbers. Comparing Delaware's commuting population to Missisippi's is biased when you consider that we still have less then 1 million people here while Mississippi has nearly 3 times that.

On another hand, it doesn't surprise me at all. My commute to my full-time job isn't ideal and, were it not for the fact that DH and I commute together, I probably wouldn't do it alone. I commute to my part-time job on my own without hesitation.

I think I'm more comfortable in traffic than many people, but I have to pass through some so-so neighborhoods in order to avoid some terrible roads on my primary commute. For me, the roadblock to commuting is not cycling facilities or lack thereof , but personal safety considerations.

We are fortunate to have a well-organized advocacy organization here. BikeDE has worked closely with our DOT, and I've seen a big improvement in facilities within the past few years. I'm excited by the idea that DelDOT will have a Complete Streets policy in the near future. My hope is that they will begin to work with the local municipalities to improve roads outside of the state's jurisdiction.

www.bikede.org

[spokewench]

Alabama cyclist here, though not a commuter.
A lot of roads in my city are not conducive to commuting, and the drivers are hostile to cyclists. I'd LOVE to commute to my office which is only 7 miles away, but there are no safe roads for me to do so. Not to mention my employer doesn't really have any facilities to shower (necessary because the # of significant hills I'd have to tackle)/dress/store my bike. Technically, I could do it, but I'd feel like I was risking life and limb to do it, and that's for someone with a pretty high risk tolerance.

I notice that the states listed are less likely to have bike lanes (outside of college towns). In fact, some road construction/improvement in the area is being stalled because the community comments have been that the speeds on the roads are too high for bike lanes even though the Federal Highway department wants to add bike lanes.

We need more advocacy and support from local businesses before commuting becomes viable here.

The community needs to become educated - bike lines = less speed; why, I'm not sure, but bike lanes seem to work as traffic calming devices.

[shootingstar]

Would agree that having usable cycling route infrastructure is helpful but there does have to be several simultaneous activities on: active promotion of cycling as a viable transportation option with the few brave cyclists doing it often and public education sessions/groups to teach/support people who want to/continue cycling as a commuting option.



For Vancouver B.C. a 2003, city study was done on sample of 3,500 commuting cyclists (at 4 major points along Adanac bike route and Ontario St. bike route). 30% of the cyclists were female.

Don't know if that gender ratio is same now, but there has been total commuter cycling growth in our city since 2003 with now more mileage of new cycling infrastructure. City is working on determining actual growth.

[tulip]

The community needs to become educated - bike lines = less speed; why, I'm not sure, but bike lanes seem to work as traffic calming devices.

That's debatable. If there are few cyclists, then drivers actually drive faster on roads with bike lanes because they appear to be wider.

[withm]

Well I live in what is affectionately referred to as "lower, slower Delaware" and in a town where almost 40% of the residents are over 65 (2008 census estimate). It's a resort, and retirement area (no sales tax, very low property tax rates) thus attracts a lot of retirees, who don't ride to work because they no longer work. This probably skews the bike commutter statistics a bit since the demographics not typical. Heck - the entire population of state is only about 875,000. And the entire state is mostly rural with the exception of Wilmington and suburbs, so larger distances must be traveled on a routine basis.

I have ridden my bike to work, but 12 of the 13.5 miles are on a 4-lane divided highway (55mph, but with 10' paved and marked bike shoulder so that's good) with no street lighting for 10 of those miles, and prevailing winds are out of the north in the morning, and the south in the evening - which makes for 27 miles of headwinds for me when I do ride. It's neither a fun, nor practical, commute.

[kacie tri-ing]

Maybe they need more podium boys (from a thread above)

[ny biker]

We all need more podium boys.


Throwing this into the mix, re: risk taking and gender among cyclists:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...ts-on-the-road

[channlluv]

How exactly does one declare herself a cycling commuter?

Roxy

[tulip]

How exactly does one declare herself a cycling commuter?

Roxy

"I ride my bike to work. I am a cycling commuter."

[sundial]

Arkansas rider here.

Arkansas roads in general are NOT bike friendly. Just pick up a copy of Cyclists' Yellow Pages and there are NO roads recommended in Arkansas.
There are many, many rural towns with patchwork pavement and/or chip seal. Many roads don't even have a shoulder. Heck, even the truck drivers complain. In the major cities there are no bike lanes, little to no bike racks and lockers. If there is even a bike courier in Arkansas I will be very surprised.

On the plus side, if you are a mtb'er there are miles and miles of gravel roads to explore and several great singletrack in the central and northern part of the state. Syllamo Trail, which is listed among the top trails in the US, is one of them.

[GulfCoastAmy]

Alabama cyclist here, though not a commuter.
A lot of roads in my city are not conducive to commuting

Ditto this! Although I could see myself commuting at some point.