5 states where women cyclists are almost extinct

[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.

[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)