Survey: Women Opt for Safer Bike Infrastructure

New research from the University of Birmingham in the UK shows that cyclists of all genders agree on high-level preferences and priorities: Trails through parks were identified as the preferred form of bike infrastructure, followed by curb-protected bike lanes. And perceptions of safety were a top factor in shape those preferences.

But further questions revealed that women had a stronger preference for separated bike infrastructure and were more inclined to chose safety over other advantages, Streetsblog's Angie Schmitt reports. Men, for example, were more willing to ride in the road in exchange for a more direct route or as they gained cycling experience.

A 2011 study in New York also found a particular preference among women for separated bike lanes. The findings reinforce the notion that safety concerns are a major factor in the cycling gender gap, Schmitt says.