5 states where women cyclists are almost extinct

[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.

[channlluv]

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

Well, okay, but I meant for the purposes of this state-by-state census. How'd they get these numbers? Did any of you respond to a survey of some kind asking if you commute? I never have. Just wondering how accurate this data is.

Roxy