5 states where women cyclists are almost extinct

[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)

[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."