I think that also, the weather is a big factor here. If I could just hop on a bike in my work clothes, and pootle away without breaking a sweat, then that would be a great start to the day (and an excuse for a new ride-to-work bike!), but as it is, it takes me 45 minutes to ride to work, then as previously stated, I’d have to shower and change. I’m not much of a morning person and this would mean me getting up an hour earlier. The weather is pretty wet here and so there’s no way I could ride in work clothes. Also, I find that because I’m used to bombing around on my bike, it’s harder to take it easy. So riding to work would be a race, and I get super red when I exert myself. Not a good start to a school day!

I went travelling in the States a few years back and went everywhere on my bike. I used to love just slipping a pair of cycling shorts on under my skirt and pedalling away. Weather aside, on nice days, why don’t I still do this? Maybe it’s because I don’t trust having to lock my bike up anywhere. I had my beloved ‘travelling bike’ stolen a week after I returned to the UK from outside the pool – and that was with two locks on.

My commute to work is 11 miles. I’d love to be able to just jump on the bike without worrying about having sorted out the weeks clothes and left it at work on a Monday. But how realistic is this?

Does there need to be a clear distinction between riding for pleasure or riding as a form of transport? Does that distinction need to be made in the clothes you wear, or just your frame of mind? When riding for pleasure I don’t mind if I get ‘helmet hair’ or muddy or fall off, but if I’m riding to work and these things happen, it’s another chore added to a long day.

I’d have to agree that to get women on [commuting] bikes, you have to a) make it safer and b) make it more about practicality than just recreation… but I also think that c) it needs to become FASHIONABLE. And not in that red-light-running-messenger-bag-fixie-hipster sort of way. More of a Copenhagen Cycle Chic sort of way. I’m personally more on the hippie side of the spectrum than stiletto- but you don’t have to be a hippie to ride a bike!

Another article I just read speculated that in the US more men in the 20-50 year age group bike than women because women are doing all the schlepping of food, kids, etc. . The men just hop on a bike and bike off to work while many of the women need a bike that they can carry the dry cleaning and kids on. Most American bikes are not set up for this.

However, I’ve noticed that men commuters prevail in the early 20′s age group, when few of the men or women are married and have kids to cart about. So it has to be something else.

In the wider age group, though, I know from asking people at work that the “vanity” thing does apply. Women have told me they would have to get to work, then shower, put on makeup, do their hair and dress and they don’t have time for that. The people who do bike to work here are all men and are all slobs like me so don’t worry so much. I’ll bike to work in a suit and not worry about it.

In Europe and Asia, cycling has managed to retain it’s ‘everday transport’ label, despite the rise of the automobile. It is regarded as an effortless, normal activity as opposed to a strenuous and insular sport for passionate insiders.

Professor John Pucher – ‘The Bicycle Scholar’ – has a similar angle:

One striking difference Pucher notes between North America and the European cities he studies are the people on the bikes. In Europe, the split is roughly 50-50 between men and women, with all age groups represented, whereas in North America, the majority are young, sporty men.

The lesson, according to Pucher, is that we need to create cycling facilities separated from motor vehicle traffic so as to attract those who don’t care to be scared on their way to work or to the grocery store. When we’ve created something that women will want to cycle on, then we’ll really have something.
From an interview with Pucher in Momentum Magazine

Helmets are an issue, too. Not because of messy hair or vanity but because in tact with cycling’s branding as a sport, daily cycling has become labelled as ‘dangerous’, despite statistics that say otherwise. Helmet advocacy and legislation quite simply scares people, women included, away from cycling.

Regarding the comment about European women and their scarves… I must say that I’ve only ever seen it a couple of times and it was a fashion choice. And I’m an expert…

Regarding e-bikes, there are many makes on the way from Netherlands and Denmark that will take e-bikes to the next level.

Thanks for the comment.
While I look way better riding without a helmet ; – ) I usually wear one. I can see how that would be a limiting factor to non-cyclists. You’re right – the streets aren’t as mean as they look from a car.