Why women don’t cycle?

Depends on what kind of
Depends on what kind of cycling you wish to encourage; Commuting, shopping / local journeys, sport and recreation.

From random conversations over the years with the tiny demographic of women who would speak with me I would cite, as genuine concerns, lack of confidence in actually riding a bike, usually as a result of not cycling as a child, usually due to parental fears over road safety. And leading from that, lack of safe cycling infrasture at critical points. E.g a single scarey roundabout can make an otherwise simple commute a no go.

After that the excuses become more of a veneer over simply not wanting to make an effort or being put to any discomfort over the cocooned space of the car.

My 17 year old granddaughter

My 17 year old granddaughter is a dancer, a competition ice skater  and she is goes to a gym for strength and flexibiliy training for skating, so I asked her whether she would consider cycling.

She said that she would cycle but she’s scared of traffic and that’s what puts her off the most.

She also made the point that no girls she knows cycle and that it would be wierd to be the only one who does.   She said that it’s easier for boys to continue to ride to school as they don’t have to wear skirts.

Finally, she enjoys the social side of skating (she’s in a team) and dancing and doesn’t see cycling as a sociable activity. 

I’m a female and I cycle for

I’m a female and I cycle for fitness.  I was late to the party, only starting in my 40’s and starting off at a very low fitness level.  Luckily i found Breeze rides whihc has helped me progress & I now cycle with a number of mixed local cycling groups & I am a Breeze leader.

Of your list 

Harrasment (verbal abuse, funny looks, sexual harrasment)

I have been shouted at and abused by passing car drivers, but I can usually hold my own and luckily they have never stopped, plus I am told in certain circumstances I can be a little scary.

I do though sometimes worry about being in remote places on my own on a bike ride but that’s because i watch too many murder mysteries

Lack of confidence

As a female I do worry about rocking up to join a new group, particularly a mixed group.  Usually I worry about being fast enough & getting dropped, especially if i don’t know the area or causing some inconvienience & holding the group up.

Some groups also do not encourage women.  A club local to me advertises their “beginner” rides as 17-18mph average.  Too fast for most beginner women to manage & a number of men I would imagine

Fear of traffic

I can’t say i’m keen on traffic, but it’s not really put me off.  I try to be sensible, i wouldn’t cycle down a major A roads if i can avoid it & if it is busy i’d use a cycle path if there was one available, but is that gender related or just general common sense?

Not wanting to break a sweat / potentially mess your hair etc

That’s not gender specific, it’s person. Some people worry about these things, some don’t.  Personally i’m usually covered in snot & oil within 10 minutes & am passed caring.

Distance

Again depends on the person, women tend to have better stamina than men so distance isn’t really a problem when we get going.  I’m training for ride london so for me i wouldn’t bother to turn up for rides less than 50 miles.

One consideration that may not have been mentioned is that the majority of Breeze rides are restricted to 50 miles or less, unless the leader has been on a level 2 training course.  This can resstrict the distances alot of women are offered on group rides. 

Weather

I won’t go out in ice, but again is that gender or just sensible., as i can’t really afford a broken bone. I will though use my turbo if i can’t get out, that’s partly why i have one.

Lack of cycle lanes

Not a problem where i am as i live on a sustrans route & in quite a rural setting.  

hills

I can’t say I like them, and I’m not the fastest up them, but i have passed a number of men pushing their bikes up.  All I ask is if you get off, pull to the side of the road & when pushing don’t walk in the middle of the road.

 
Not knowing enough about bicycle maintence

Again that could be anyone, regardless of gender.  My other half doesn’t know one groupset from another, where as i like to research everything about the bikes i purchase. i regularly read this forum, a number of bike magazines. 

I can’t strip down my bike but i can fix a puncture if I’m out, have the number of my local bike shop on speed dial & i have breakdown insurance if I’m totally stuck on a ride.  

Bikes are too expensive, not sure where to get a 2nd hand one

Rubbish again, not gender specific. My other half tries to limit me to 3 bikes.  I have 5 with nothing less than ultegra, and I have the gadgets to go with them.  this depends on the person & if they like “stuff” and have the means to buy it.

What i have found though, is bike shops can make assumptions.  They see a female & see lower spec and talk to you accordingly.  If i have this situation i take my custom elsewhere & tell all my female cycling friends, conversely I also tell them if the cycle shop staff are helpful & non judgmental.

It seems to me that this is

It seems to me that this is the wrong place to ask this question. First, it’s predominantly men, second the women here do cycle. You should be asking the women who don’t cycle, and they’re probably not reading this site.

I guess I’m your atypical

I guess I’m your atypical woman then. I love riding my race bike. So here’s my answer to your list of factors.

Harrasment (verbal abuse, funny looks, sexual harrasment)
I’m from Belgium, lots of cyclists here, but I do find that I still get looks from male cyclists. Some are looks of amazement, usually from older cyclists, others give me a “hey look, a woman on a race bike”-smile.  I don’t give a crap. 

Lack of confidence
Nope. I often go riding with men and I can hold my own. 

Fear of traffic
Sometimes, on busy roads, but I tend to avoid them like the plague. Luckily, there are enough bike paths here where  you don’t see cars for miles and miles. 

Not wanting to break a sweat / potentially mess your hair etc
Bwuahahahaha. I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer. Isn’t that why showers were invented?

Distance
I commute to work by bike twice a week. My office is 40 miles away. You do the math. 

Weather
Nope. When it rains,  I get wet. I’m not made of sugar, I won’t melt. I only cycle indoors (track) when temps go down lower than -5° or when it snows, which hardly ever happens here.

Lack of cycle lanes
Nope. Plenty of those around here.

hills
I’ll give you that one. I hate climbing. Doesn’t stop me from going to the Mont Ventoux each year. But if given a choice between a hilly ride and a flat one, I’ll always pick the latter.

Not knowing enough about bicycle maintence
After riding for two years, I got sick of paying through the nose for bicycle maintenance, so I went to evening school and am now a licensed bicycle technician.

Bikes are too expensive, not sure where to get a 2nd hand one
I just ordered a BMC Teammachine SLR01.  I don’t have kids, have to spend my hard earned cash on something, right?