Blacksburg Bicycle Women Unite

You may have heard a gender gap exists in the U.S. for bicycle commuters. It may seem obvious and appear normal that more men bike than women do. But when we look at thriving cycling cultures in Europe, this is not the case. At all! In Germany, half of all riders are women. In the Netherlands, it’s more than half. That is significant. As such, women are increasingly being studied as 'indicator species' for safe infrastructure that supports active transportation lifestyles. This is a matter of health and sustainability people! Can empowering American women to bicycle, in fact, lead to environmentally conscious mobility, increased health amongst an obesity epidemic and sustainable transportation for future generations? I'd like to think so.

Exploring what motivates women to bicycle is a hot topic! A national lens born by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals has opened those doors. Building on the Women Cycling Project, I had the opportunity to attend the National Women Cycling Forum two weeks ago. The room was packed! An inspiring energy and communal spirit permeated the air as women (and men!) discussed an exciting feminine opportunity to lead an active transportation revolution in the U.S. - part of National Bike Summit 2012.

During last week's webinar, 'Empowering Women to Bicycle', Finnuola Quinn and Kit Keller encourage us to use the National Women Cycling Forum as a springboard for action in our own communities - and we're doing just that at Virginia Tech!

Let's face it. Most bike commuters in Blacksburg are men. Whether it be the lack of bike lanes and sharrows down North Main Street or women's risk-averse attitude towards the many distracted drivers on our roads, far too few women bike in Blacksburg! It's time for this to change. In SGA Transportation, we understand women need the right kinds of encouragement to commute by bike. Despite the MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra) at the bike store confusing us with power-to-gear-ratios when asked a simple question on how to shift into an easier gear, the ladies of SGA Transportation invite all women from our Hokie community to discuss barriers in bike commuting.

As part of Womens Mobility Week (April 22-27), be sure to attend the Virginia Tech Women Cycling Forum! Mix and mingle with other women who commute by bike at VT, share stories and swap advice on everything from biking in skirts with class projects to navigating the Prices Fork round-about. We'll discuss barriers and safety concerns VT women have about biking in Blacksburg, then brainstorm how we can empower more women to bike while creating a culture of respect for active transportation. We're currently looking for panelists! If you'd like to lead part of the discussion, email mckeevla@vt.edu with your ideas.

At the event, we'll be recruiting models for the big Blacksburg Cycle Chic Fashion Show on May 1st!