How Social Infrastructure Gets More People on Bikes

Safe, protected bike lanes and connectivity to transit are important factors in supporting more cycling. But, Alison Griswold writes in Bloomberg CityLab, “The social infrastructure of urban cycling — programs that give people the skills, tools and confidence to get on two wheels — can be just as important as physical infrastructure, especially when it comes to bridging access gaps.”

Around the world, rates of cycling for women are significantly lower than for men, due to a host of factors from harassment to to infrastructure. “For many decades, the streets of cities around the world have largely been built around the mobility preferences of men.”

Social and educational programs that help people learn to ride and feel confident on bikes can help close the gap. “In the UK, Transport for London reported last June that uptake of adult cycle training sessions was ‘particularly strong among some traditionally under-represented cycling groups,’ with 76% female participants and more than 40% from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds.” Griswold provides examples of other education programs, but notes that few adult bike education programs exist in comparison with programs aimed at children. The popularity of biking helps, too: “A 2021 survey of cycling behavior in 17 countries and 35 major cities found women biked as much as men when cycling’s overall mode share exceeded 7%.” Sadly, only a few global cities meet that threshold.