Women feel more uncomfortable biking to work than men, Strava report finds

Almost anywhere around the world, you’re more likely to find a man on a bicycle than a woman. 

Fitness tracking network Strava keeps tabs on 48 million people who use the app for runs, hikes, gym workouts, commutes, cycling trips, and more. When crunching the numbers for 2019, Strava found a disconcerting trend with female cyclists: They were less likely to bike to work than men. 

Globally, women commute by bike 6.7 percent less than men, based on Strava data released Tuesday. In the U.S., gender parity is even more out of reach, with women cyclists commuting an average of 17.4 percent less than men. Only in Denmark will you find more female cyclists commuting than their male counterparts. 

The U.S. is no Denmark. Breaking it down across cities, in New York City, 30.9 percent of women commute on bikes, while more than 33 percent of men commute this way. In Los Angeles it’s 25.5 percent of men to only 21.8 percent of women. Only in Portland, Oregon do bike-commute numbers align more closely with 44.5 percent of women compared to 45.4 percent of men. 

Several factors contribute to the male-dominated bike commute in cities across America, but mostly rider preferences have to do with safety. With precarious roads, zooming cars, and crappy bike infrastructure, women are less likely to feel safe on a bike. One study found that when protected bike lanes were added in a city, more women bikers ventured onto the road. 

Jonathan Maus, editor and publisher of BikePortland, a Portland, Oregon, cycling-focused media outlet, considers safety issues stemming from bad infrastructure for bikes only one piece of the gender imbalance for bike commuting. He wrote in an email to Mashable that other issues like verbal harassment while riding, intimidation in bike shops and other bike zones, and expectations around appearance in the workplace can discourage women from riding to and from work. 

But he noted things are changing. The preponderance of electric bikes can make it easier for women to get into the saddle and bike lane — and get to work not drenched in sweat. Women-based riding clubs and online support groups “[give] women a more welcoming and supportive place to get started,” he wrote.

It’s not just e-bikes. The electrification of transportation makes car-free commutes more palatable for more people, especially women. With car commutes costing thousands each year, alternative travel methods are even more alluring. Transportation analytics company Populus found women have a more favorable view of electric scooters and are willing to ride them to commute and get around. In a 2018 study, Populus noted 72 percent of women surveyed had a positive view on e-scooters.

Whatever it takes to close the gender gap for bike riding.