If there was a single takeaway from the National Women’s
Bicycling Summit in Long Beach last Thursday, it was a clear message that cycling for transportation and sport will
quickly be dominated by women, if companies will take the time to market to
them and communities take the time to build programs for them.
Cycling commentator Elly Blue, Maria Boustead of Po Campo bags, professional cyclists Dottie
Bausch and Dorothy Wong were a few of the many women who spoke at the summit.
The topics of the panels ranged from encouraging women to participate in the sport
of cycling to how the cycling industry markets to women.
Though each break-out session was unique in subject matter,
a clear message came across all channels: we need to close the gender gap in
cycling. Women need to help other women get involved in cycling and be teachers
and mentors. Women need to show each other how to ride safely, fix bikes, and integrate
cycling into our daily lives. But women
don’t need to just help each other, they need to help our communities. It is important that women voice their concerns over safe routes to schools, work, and throughout our city.
With staggering numbers of children who are destined to be
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the age of 18, helping women and primary
care givers learn about cycling and integrate it into their families not only
solves a transportation issue, it solves a healthcare issue as well.
So what does all of this mean for Salt Lake City? In a city
where nearly 50 percent of the population is female (according to the 2010 US
census), we have ample opportunities for more women to become involved in
cycling and have a voice in the community. Organizations like Spoke Stoke, the
Bonneville Cycling Club, Women’s Wrench Night at the SLC Bike Collective, Salty Spokes, Cycle and Style, the
Sunday Morning Slow Poke Ride and even our own SaltCycle racing team offer
opportunities for women to learn, grow, and stretch themselves in the saddle.
If you have any questions or comments on how Salt Lake can continue to make cycling accessible to women and families, leave a comment below and let us know.
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