"Women who ride"... on the sidewalk...

[shootingstar]

The reason you don't see us is your first lesson in biking to work is: think sides streets, parallel roads, off the busiest streets. It's actually faster, more relaxing and scenic, more fun. Ride where the cars aren't."

It's like a light goes off over their head "Oh, I could ride, I don't have to bike down that busy road".

If there isn't an "official" bike route or path, and sometimes even if there is I make my own by finding the best side streets etc.

If a person lives in an area where cycling routes have not been suggested/promoted to people living locally, then it may require helping a person to rethink their streets . Sometimes it's a just an extra 2-3 blocks away to just to remove oneself from high volume fast car routes.

[Geonz]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcziko/...7594104077802/

Here's a photo essay of safety hazards on our bike path system. (By the way, at least here, doing this gets noticed by planners & powers that be.)

Some of these photos would still be considered almost bucolic to someone drivingt by. Happy people meandering to their destinations! It's a totally different feeling when you're on your bike actually trying to *get* somewhere.