Post #3666468

2026-07-08 06:59 UTC

Something anecdotal I have noticed in my rural town: I see plenty of teenage boys riding bikes, but rarely teenage girls. I am wondering if this is something unique to where I am (small town in the middle of Denmark) or something more widely noticed. Can others let me know if they see a similar pattern? (Please do not stare at teenagers, especially teenage girls, while conducting this research.) #BikeTooter

Replies (6)

@likse@mastodon.nu 2026-07-08 07:26

@juliette@mastodon.green south west Skåne Sweden, in urban areas no noticed difference, in the rural areas bike commuters are mostly middle aged with little gender skew, the high school kids get free public transport so possibly that makes fewer teenagers on bikes

Open ##3666467
@sorenhave@mastodon.nu 2026-07-08 18:39

@juliette@mastodon.green I live in central Copenhagen, and haven’t noticed any difference (I have two daughters that have biked since kindergarten and see it as a joy and a great freedom).

Open ##3678150
@BongoTwisty@social.vivaldi.net 2026-07-08 10:08

@juliette@mastodon.green There was a report last year exploring how children in the UK get about in their area. The report highlighted something similar to what you describe. Looks like an equity issue rather than one of preference. A gender gap exists in children's cycling Proportion of children who cycled at least five times in the last week 17% of girls 28% of boys Proportion of children who think their local area is a good place to cycle 66% of girls 72% of boys Proportion of children who see themselves as someone who often cycles 8% of girls 17% of boys https://www.walkwheelcycletrust.org.uk/the-walking-and-cycling-index/childrens-walking-and-cycling-index/

Open ##3678284
@CarstenBoll@mstdn.dk 2026-07-08 07:02

@juliette@mastodon.green My eldest and all her friends ride bikes - but no idea if it's representative of anything.

Open ##4208783
@moz@fosstodon.org 2026-07-08 07:05

@juliette@mastodon.green round the Wollongong waterfront/beaches (NSW, Australia) teenage girls on ebikes are a common sight. I suspect I've seen a few pedalling bicycles, but like a lot of people in the area electric "bicycles" that look like motorbikes are extremely common but pedalling those is rare. In the car-dependent hellscape of the surrounding city and suburbs male cyclists are pretty rare and teenage girls on bicycles even more so. I have seen them though. #BikeTooter

Open ##4208787
@moz@fosstodon.org 2026-07-08 07:07

@juliette@mastodon.green Where I actually live, middle of Sydney, bicycles are pretty rare in general. But the few I see are either male or middle-aged women, all of us commuting to or from work on the bike paths. There are boys on e-motorbikes in the afternoon, I don't recall seeing girls doing that. E-motorbikes are _A Problem_ here right now. #BikeTooter

Open ##4208788