Descrição

Although men and women bicycle at relatively equal rates in industrialized
countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, research
has consistently found that in the United States men’s total bicycle trips
surpass women’s by a ratio of at least 2 to 1. Current evidence, though
limited, suggests that women are affected to greater or lesser degrees
than men by certain factors. The purpose of this study is to provide
insight on gender differences with the factors that influence the decision
to use a bicycle, with the intent of supporting policy development aimed
at increasing bicycle ridership, particularly among women. Bicycle use
in six small cities in the western United States is examined to determine
how gender interacts with individual factors and social and physical
environments to influence bicycle behavior. Analysis of data from an
online survey using a binary logistic regression approach shows strong
interaction of gender with individual factors such as safety perception
and household responsibilities and, to a lesser degree, with social and
environmental factors to influence bicycle behavior.