Why don't ladies commute?
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby alexander » Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:53 pm
They spend hours trying to make themselves the best woman they can so that they feel validated in the eyes of others. Even men are to blame here, shaving, waxing, etc. We all want women to be beautiful, and women want to be beautiful, but that doesn't really translate into practical. You need to be fairly practical to commute.
Women don't think being sweaty, smelly, covered in grime, hot, is really beautiful. A lot of women think exercise is a means to an ends, rather than enjoying the ride, they enjoy what the ride does for them, makes them healthy and skinny.
This is by no means a definitive answer, or does it cover all women and their attitudes to sport/exercise/cycling, but it certainly helps explain why a lot of women don't ride.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby sturmey archer » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:30 pm
Not much difference in those rates....
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby wombatK » Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:34 pm
Ugly betty Hope its only an incy wincy really tiny bit like. More likely the designer outfit girls are mutton dressed as lamb. Bet your missus has a better looking butt and legs than any of them. Jeans and tops are all you need when the underlying assets are in good shape. And she's taking care of the environment as well as her health and little wonder the fixie guys are impressed. They must all be wondering how to get their GF's to do the same.simonn wrote:FWIW, my wife commutes most of the time.
She says she feels a bit like ugly betty (she works for a media/online company - a serious mix of ugly betty biatches, online hipsters and IT engineers) some of the time as most of the women who work there wear a different immaculate designer outfit every day, never the same twice. She wears her jeans and top which have been in her backpack and the same shoes everyday.
In another thread, mikesbytes mentioned that many of his female spin-class members were worried about getting legs/bums that were too big - the classic is my ass big concern lots of women have. Don't know if that's a factor that could deter women commuters, but if it is, it's a furphy. Bicycle commuting will make you fit, and trim and taut, not big.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby jet-ski » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:26 pm
1. A lot have children to drop off
2, they do the shopping
3. They run to the post office
4. They take the kids to after school activities
5. They have dinners to prepare
all could be solved by a properly fitted out xtracycle....
I'm nearly 30, work, study, look after two dogs, two cats and a house myself. Commuting by bicycle is one way to guarantee that I'm doing some exercise when things seem hectic. Plus it saves me $$$. Every dollar counts.
I think there's a 'macho' element to riding in a city where motorists have a rep for being aggro towards cyclists and there may not be infrastructure that supports cycling. Some people are scared out of it by the idea that every driver is out to get them. Some thrive on it. The division is usually along gender lines.
All in all though, I think these are 'excuses' and some concrete is in order. Problem is that if you tell a guy to 'harden up' they are more likely to take on the challenge I reckon. Women just go 'um, yeah, whatever.' Heh.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Parker » Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:11 pm
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Thoglette » Sun Sep 12, 2010 10:31 pm
I have a tandem - and still need the car three days a week (four kids in it some days).jet-ski wrote:I commute. Honestly all of the listed things that Missy has mentioned...
1. A lot have children to drop off
2, they do the shopping
3. They run to the post office
4. They take the kids to after school activities
5. They have dinners to prepare
all could be solved by a properly fitted out xtracycle....
To use a broad brush, survey says: female participation rates are predominatly a function of perceived risk. Commuting routes usually contain sections of "high perceived risk".
Which is exactly why modern SUVs have nice, soft, curved interiors compared to the industrial look of a '70s Landcruiser.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby jet-ski » Sun Sep 12, 2010 11:54 pm
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby x8pg2qr » Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:31 am
Scientific American had an article last year about this:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... n-the-road
(Doesn’t mean I agree with everything in the article). Although if the posters here suggest that 1 in 5–10 riders are males, then that suggests that building facilities targeting women is sensible. Similarly, my observation is that there aren’t many kids and oldies commuting either, but they may be more difficult markets to target, compared to working/uni adult women—or maybe they would benefit from the same infrastructure/changes.
I think that list of reasons: shower/weather/children/shopping/post office/dinner etc is probably true, but doesn’t explain the societies where female commuting (as a fraction) is higher than in Australia.
Googling reveals that BV, c r c, have pages devoted to women, also http://www.gearupgirl.com.au/ etc, so hopefully representative bodies understand the need to attract women. There’s also new cycle chic sites for Melbourne and Sydney at least, which is a good sign.
http://www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au ... in_Cycling
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby The Womble » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:12 am
FeministMissy24 wrote:Oh and FYI I'm not on some feminist rampage
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Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Comedian » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:09 am
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Max » Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:09 am
I commute, but you never see me because I'm out so early! Maybe all the women commute super-early so that they won't be seen by the male cycling populationComedian wrote:I saw a lady commuter this morning. That's one for this week .. Big start ..
Who knows why some women choose not to ride their bikes for commuting. I have a very short hairdo, so helmet hair isn't an issue (and I don't think I'd care anyway, even if I had long hair). My workplace has showers, so I can de-stink before starting work.
I have two challenges WRT commuting. The first is time. I work on the other side of town. Even a mixed-mode commute (ride, train, ride) takes a touch over 2 hours. Each way. This is a substantial commitment, and means I have to take time away from other things such as spending time with my partner, my dog, vegging in front of the TV, studying, posting on BNA etc.
The second is carrying a load. I've been commuting off and on with a backpack for the last year, and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with the extra weight. If I have a heavy load to carry, it can make my shoulders very sore. It also limits visibility. Due to this, I'm giving serious thought to buying a commuter, something that can take panniers.
These challenges aren't limited to women. I'm sure men have those same problems.
So, the short answer is, I don't know why some women don't ride their bikes to work. Silly, silly girls. They have no idea what they're missing out on!
Max
Cycling is sometimes like bobbing for apples in a bucket full of dicks. - SydGuy
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby TheSkyMovesSideways » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:35 pm
... or perhaps a better husband.jet-ski wrote:I commute. Honestly all of the listed things that Missy has mentioned...
1. A lot have children to drop off
2, they do the shopping
3. They run to the post office
4. They take the kids to after school activities
5. They have dinners to prepare
all could be solved by a properly fitted out xtracycle....
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby toolonglegs » Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:39 pm
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby ghettro » Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:04 am
In fact I remember reading somewhere that the percentage of women cycling as transport is a good indicator of how safe/mainstream cycling in a city.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby x8pg2qr » Thu Sep 16, 2010 10:34 am
Possibly:ghettro wrote:In fact I remember reading somewhere that the percentage of women cycling as transport is a good indicator of how safe/mainstream cycling in a city.
Jan Garrard has been writing about this for a few years now. e.g. 2005 PDF:x8pg2qr wrote: Scientific American had an article last year about this:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... n-the-road
Healthy Revolutions: Promoting Cycling For Women
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Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Comedian » Thu Sep 16, 2010 10:47 am
When stopped at the lights I want to talk to them and offer encouragement but I'm afraid I'll come over as patronizing or sleazy 8o.
This morning a lady hopped off at the bottom of a small hill. I asked if she was ok and she replied that it was too hard. So I chugged past her on my carbon road bike and as I was sailing up the hill yelled out that it will get easier. I hope she took it as I intended but I felt like a bastard afterwards
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby simonn » Thu Sep 16, 2010 11:51 am
45 blokes (+-3 - I may have counted the same cyclist twice)
4 women
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby jet-ski » Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:01 pm
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Boognoss » Thu Sep 16, 2010 1:04 pm
Well you only saw me once that I noticed .simonn wrote:To entertain myself I did a count yesterday evening.
45 blokes (+-3 - I may have counted the same cyclist twice)
4 women
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby beauyboy » Thu Sep 16, 2010 2:04 pm
He was an idiot as well cos, as we all know changing during a climb risks, losing speed and losing the chain off the Cassette.jet-ski wrote:There was only one guy who annoyed me who told me to change gear while I was climbing up an overpass
Donald
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby toolonglegs » Thu Sep 16, 2010 9:38 pm
I saw about 260 bicycles been ridden in about 90 minutes (non commuting hours of 9.30am to 11.30am)...Over 160 had a female at the bars...and of those 260 bikes I saw ONE person (male fixie rider ) wearing a helmet.
The ratio of hot/not was very favourable as well for the female pilots .
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby hartleymartin » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:37 am
Women In Motion: New Lady Riders Reflect on NYC Cycling
I think that the main reasons we don't see the ladies commuting on bicycles:
1.) Perception that cycling is dangerous (better bicycle infrastructure will fix this)
2.) Typical bicycles cannot carry 3 kids + shopping (seen as an un-practical option - get a bakfiet)
3.) Women don't want to arrive places sweaty + smelly (not as big of a problem for women as it is for men)
4.) Bicycles seen as a form of sporting equipment, not a transport option (this will change with time)
I make a habit of wearing regular clothing as much as possible when I ride my bicycle, just to show people that you don't have to be a sporty type, and regular people can ride a bicycle to go places. The only alteration I make in my clothing is that I tuck my right pant-leg into my sock to keep it out of the chain.
Oh, and for those who think that you cannot get the kids and shopping around:
http://cargocycling.org/2010/07/hudson- ... ycles.html
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Chops » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:21 pm
1) The intelligence level of the women. Most have phd's and are very highly powered.
2) Their age. I don't think any of them have children, although most are taken.
3) They work in an industry or area where they try to encourage it, or see the benefits, so to them it is obvious.
4) It seems to be a work place which is very pro-exercise and a lot of staff work out together separately as well.
5) They don't care about looks because they are nerds and don't have to deal with the public.
Interesting to note that I don't think any of the secretaries or admins cycle.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby Fletcher » Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:40 am
Man, that sounds cool. any vacancies?Chops wrote:I'd say about half of the women commute to my work. I put this down to a few things:
1) The intelligence level of the women. Most have phd's and are very highly powered.
2) Their age. I don't think any of them have children, although most are taken.
3) They work in an industry or area where they try to encourage it, or see the benefits, so to them it is obvious.
4) It seems to be a work place which is very pro-exercise and a lot of staff work out together separately as well.
5) They don't care about looks because they are nerds and don't have to deal with the public.
Interesting to note that I don't think any of the secretaries or admins cycle.
Agree with several of the above that the main reason more women don't commute seems to be perceived risk, though only speaking from observation and exp. A frequently heard response when I tell people, especially women, I commute daily is "You ride on the road??" and is usually accompanied with Even met a few women who are heavily into mtb, compete in enduros and clock up a ridiculous number of km offroad and spinning but rarely venture out onto the roads. When they do, it's usually on the weekend in the safety of a group as they're genuinely concerned about getting wiped out.
It's a bit of a shame, but I don't see many women riding the roads through the week.
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Re: Why don't ladies commute?
Postby marieparr » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:14 am
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