The reason fewer US women cycle than the Dutch is not what you think it is.

So all we need to do is change our whole culture. Why didn’t we think of that sooner.

My response is mostly anecdotal and personal, so shake it like a salt shaker.

Why don’t more women in the US bike? Many researchers and advocates chalk it up to differences in risk and comfort. Women are more risk averse than men, the theory goes, and women need better infrastructure to feel comfortable riding.

I don’t think this is it for our family. My wife works close to our house and a bike trail runs the whole way. she has bike storage, shower facilities and a place to change and keep clothes. She makes her own hours. Sometimes she walks when the weather is nice. She likes bike rides occasionally as a family social event, but isn’t interested in commuting by bike.

We split kid transporting duties, her in the morning, me in the afternoon. Shopping is usually done together. I’ll take the bike when weather and time permit, but she is most often pressed for time in the morning.

Even when women earn more, are better educated, and work more hours than their male partners, they still make 1.5 times as many child-serving trips and 1.4 times as many grocery trips.

the first part is true for us, I’m curious about the second.

The lack of women on bikes is a symptom of much deeper societal differences that, sooner or later, American urban planners will need to confront. Here are three policy changes that could help shift the culture. First, reduce the burden of housework — and its associated trips — on women. Family-friendly policies such as paid paternity leave make it possible for men to help at home, and they set the pattern for the rest of parenthood.
Second, step back from our “always-there” work culture, and also pay workers a living wage. Reducing total work hours and encouraging more flexible schedules for men and women alike could free up the time necessary to get around by bike. And imagine what a game-changer it would be if low-income women could work one decently paid job rather than two or three, or if high-income women weren’t expected to be at the office 60-plus hours a week.

Finally, design communities that everyone — children, parents and grandparents alike — can navigate safely without a car. Local schools, safe streets and easily accessible activities help encourage independent mobility, and reduce the expectation that women need to serve as family chauffeurs.

The last one seems to be the purview of the urban planner. Not so sure about the the first two. Maybe that’s the problem though.

@baiskeli 97008 wrote:

Why isn’t she interested in commuting? That’s the heart of the issue of this thread. It would be great to know her thoughts.

Even in the netherlands the rate of cycling is less than 100%. Getting everyone to use a bike all the time shouldn’t be the goal, and nobody should feel like they have to justify their choice. Success is when the infrastructure is good enough that people can make a simple choice.

@mstone 97026 wrote:

Even in the netherlands the rate of cycling is less than 100%. Getting everyone to use a bike all the time shouldn’t be the goal, and nobody should feel like they have to justify their choice. Success is when the infrastructure is good enough that people can make a simple choice.

Of course. But this thread is about why women don’t commute as often as men, and americancyclo is saying his wife’s choice isn’t about infrastructure or opportunity, so it would be nice to know what she has to say about it.

@baiskeli 97043 wrote:

Is it risk of an accident, or crime, or both?

In my family, I’m probably the one likely to worry about her risk than she does, especially when she rides at night (for both accident and crime worries).

So far, of accidents. My wife has suggested I avoid the MBT because of what she has heard, but as its not on route to anywhere in particular for me, that has not been an issue. She is a little nervous about walking on 4MRT east of Shirlington at dusk, but accepts that biking is probably safer than walking vis a vis crime. WRT to accidents and riding at night, when we last walked through Fairlington after dark, I pointed out to her what a lovely place it is for after dark riding. So I don’t know that its even fear directly – so much. Its more that I don’t think anyone she knows other than me rides for transportation. There is one woman at our synagogue who we know who rides, and she is my wife’s age, but she rides recreationally only, AFAICT.

Had I not had a work colleague who commuted regularly, I don’t know it would have been as much on my radar – I think peer group modeling is probably a huge thing in explaining the patterns.

I think women are more likely to run errands of various kinds on the way home. That’s true in our family anyway. I know there are people on this forum who do all errands by bike, but for me stopping at the store for a few items is a problem – I don’t have the extra carrying capacity for a gallon of milk. Picking up the dry cleaning has the carrying capacity issue also, plus it takes me a few miles out of the way – no problem in a car, but a question of time and energy on the bike. Sometimes I actually feel that my commuting by bike is an act of selfishness.

On selfishness – in the narrower sense, thats not an issue for me, I am fortunate that way – bike commuting is a substitute for transit commuting, not driving (mostly) so it really doesn’t limit errands on the way. And its not much longer than my transit commute, and of course I hope to ride faster. But for the bigger picture, given my cholesterol and blood sugar numbers, I can easily make the case that I am riding for the sake of my wife and daughter and not for my own pleasure – that’s only partly a lie

@hozn 97060 wrote:

+1. My commuting by bike definitely limits how useful I can be — how quickly I can get home, how easy it would be for me to “swing by” the grocery store [and still be home by 5:30], etc. It is 100% (or at least 80%, since there is an aspect of economy) an act of selfishness for me but generally I’m able to be productive enough (e.g. picking up my son) without sacrificing the luxury of commuting home by bike. But what a luxury it is.

Some errands are easier for me to do by bike — stopping in various stores in Clarendon, e.g., where I can park my bike at the door, and be in and out quickly, where in a car it would take longer. But yes, you have to deal with carrying capacity. There are lots of options for that, some of which depend on how far you’ve got from the store to your house.

Also, bike can serve as workout time, so if the added time of biking < how much time you would spend working out, it's not so selfish...