By Sophie Zhang
Among 800,000 daily bike commuters in Chicago, only 30 percent are women, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. To encourage more women to enjoy the health benefits of biking in a world-class city, Women Bike Chicago hosts workshops and events for female cyclists.
It’s not that women don’t want to bike, said Jennifer James, WBC co-founder, heavy traffic makes women feel unsafe, causing them to dodge cars and buses.
“I don’t know if it’s biased or it’s for the survival for the strongest,” James said. “The infrastructure is made to be more friendly to younger and strong men.”
Elizabeth Adamczyk, Women Bike Chicago chairwoman, talks about plans to get more women to enjoy the city and its views on their bikes. (Sophie Zhang/MEDILL)
