Women are critical to the future of the bike movement in America -- and essential to the viability of the bicycle business, too. And that's not just talk; we've got the numbers to back it up. The Gluskin Townley Group discussed new data and insights on the impact of female bicyclists from recent research reports, including The Metro Urban Cyclist and the 2014 Specialty Bicycle Retail Study.

Providing community and education, women's bike clubs are a powerful way to create those connections and empower more women to take that first pedal stroke and discover the many benefits of riding. On this webinar, we heard from WE Bike (Women's Empowerment) NYC, Black Women Bike DC and Girl Bike Love. Watch the recording or click here for the webinar Tip Sheet (slides and notes). (January 23, 2013)

Though underrepresented in many aspects of the bicycle movement, there's growing evidence that women hold the purse strings when it comes to the future success of the bike industry. In preparation for the Women Mean Business theme for the National Women's Bicycling Forum, we explored the results of the American Bicyclist Study with authors Elliot Gluskin and Jay Townley to better understand the tremendous economic impact of women on the current, and more importantly, the future of the bicycle movement. Click here for the presentation slides or watch the full recording. (February 27, 2013)

Research consistently shows that women shoulder more of the household responsibilities, including childcare and transportation. Whether running errands or shuttling kids, women often face additional considerations when it comes to getting around by bike. In this webinar, we'll explore how individual, advocacy and retailer leaders are addressing these unique but widespread considerations and helping to get more moms and families out riding. For this conversation we were joined by Megan Odett, founder of Kidical Mass DC and creator of the National Family Biking Survey; Kit Hodge, Deputy Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and the creator of the organization's "Family Biking Guide"; and Martina Fahrner, co-founder of Clever Cycles in Portland, Ore., which was among the first bike shops in the U.S. to carry bikes specifically geared toward family transportation needs. (April 11, 2013) Click here to watch the recording or download resources discussed on the webinar:

• Click here to download the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s Family Biking Guide — in English, Spanish or Chinese.
• Click here for for the presentation from Megan Odett, of Kidical Mass DC, including steps to hosting an ABCs of Family Biking event in your community
• Download the results from the National Family Biking Survey
  
  • Part I: Overview
  • Part II: Destinations and Motivations
  • Take the survey!
• Click here for the presentation from Martina Fahrner, co-founder of Clever Cycles in Portland

What's the first step to encouraging more women to ride? Starting the conversation! In a growing number of communities, organizations are using Women's Forums to kick off the discussion — and start building campaigns. On this webinar, we explored successful models, strategies and take-home tips for effective women's panels with the organizers behind the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's Women & Bicycles Program and the Ohio Women's Bicycling Summit. (July 23, 2013) 

• Click here to download the slides 
• Click here for 10 Tips for Successful Women's Forums

As we continue to delve into our new "Women on a Roll" report, we were joined by a trio of women who have research expertise and personal experience related to the health benefits of bicycling.  During the live Google Hangout, we talked the research and stats that prove bicycling is an immense tool for any woman to keep in shape, and also the personal stories of those whose lives have changed for the better because they got on a bike.

Comfort and convenience are two major factors in getting more women on bikes. In our latest Women Bike report, "Women on a Roll," we can see how important these two elements are to bridging the gender gap in bicycling. We took a closer look at "comfort" and "convenience," hosting a webinar with two expert researchers in the field: Jennifer Dill of Portland State University and Susan Handyof University of California, Davis. (Aug. 29, 2013)

Read Dill's presentation here, and Handy's here. [PDF]

From our "Women on a Roll" report, we've learned that confidence is a key factor to getting more women on bikes. In this webcast, we heard from four leading League Cycling Instructors who shared some tips on building women's confidence through inclusive education. Our four panelists included:

• Lesly Jones, Black Women Bike DC
  
• Jennifer Laurita, leading LCI coach
• Maria Sipin, Women on Bikes SoCal
• Claire Stoscheck, Cycles for Change
  

During the wide-ranging conversation, we discussed how to change perceptions and entice women to become bike educators and students, as well as best practices for the classroom. Watch the full 40-minute video or read the panelists top tips here.

Women control a majority of buying decisions in the U.S. and consistently show high interest and participation levels in cycling. Can bike manufacturers and retailers do more to serve this important market? In October, Leisure Trends Group and Women Bike combined forces for a compelling webinar on the important topic of women’s-specific bike business in the U.S. Tom Jones, Senior Retail Analyst at Leisure Trends, explored retail sales trends and probed the numbers to illuminate new opportunities for cycling manufacturers and retailers; and Carolyn Szczepanski, Director of Women Bike at the League of American Bicyclists, discussed trends in women’s participation in bicycling, remaining barriers, and key opportunities to attract more women and girls to take advantage of the many benefits of biking. Click here to watch the recording.

In 2013, the League was proud to support the Washington Area Bicyclist Association's innovative Women & Bicycles initiative. Over the course of a year, the organization created and implemented a full-scale, multi-faceted campaign to increase the number of women riding in the DC area. On this webinar, Nelle Pierson, the program creator and the organization's Outreach Manager, shared the details of the program, challenges they faced and a step-by-step toolkit to help you launch a women's bicycling initiative in your community. 

To close the gender gap in bicycling, we need to remain focused on the next generation of female riders. With assistance from a Women Bike mini-grant, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia created a bicycling patch for the local Girl Scouts Council and, in this free webinar on August 6, 2014, creator Katie Monroe will share her tips and toolkit to engage Girl Scouts in your community. Watch the video here and download her advocacy toolkit here.