Reposted with permission fromLeague of American Bicyclists.
As the summer riding season peaks, the League has released a first-of-its-kind report showcasing a trend seen on streets nationwide: Women are changing the face of bicycling, and bicycling is transforming the lives
of women.
“Women on a Roll” — a product of the League’s Women Bike program — compiles more than 100 original and trusted sources of data to showcase the growth and potential of female bicyclists in the United States. It also suggests five key focus areas — the 5 Cs — to increase female ridership:
Increasingly, advocacy groups and industry leaders are recognizing the gender gap as a clear — and critical — limitation to growing the bike movement and the market. This report puts hard data behind that imperative — and reveals what’s working in getting more women on bikes and where there is clear opportunity to increase female leadership and participation.
According to the report:
- 82 percent of American women have a positive view of bicyclists. From 2003 to 2012, the number of women and girls who bicycle rose 20 percent, compared to a 0.5-percent decline among men.
- Women are the new majority: 60 percent of bicycle owners aged 17-28 years old are women.
- Women accounted for 37 percent of the bicycle market in 2011, spending $2.3 billion.
- 45 percent of local and state bicycle advocacy organization staff are female.
- 89 percent of bike shop owners are male, but 33 percent of shops are run by a husband/wife team.
- Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, including the boards of national industry and advocacy organizations — and their membership.
Download “Women on a Roll” and stay engaged as we dig further into the data and concepts in the report with female leaders over the next three months.
Photo by Fotolia/Subbotina Anna
