Advocacy & Safety - Are women really safer on the bike?

I know it's a year old but, I found this artical today and thougth some of you might find it interesting.
http://womenonwheels.bicycling.com/2006/09/women_on_wheels_2.html

Just curious as to what some of you think about it.

Personal anecdotal stories:

I have been on rides with men and have witnessed far more motorist aggression against the men on those rides than I have experienced on rides with women only, or on rides where I am the only participant.

I do have long red hair, and I'm short. I think it's fairly obvious that I am female. However, I always wear high-vis vests and a helmet.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k317/East_Hill/IMG_1445.jpg

Perhaps it's just my wildly clashing socks that catch the eye of motorists?

East Hill

I know it's a year old but, I found this artical today and thougth some of you might find it interesting.
http://womenonwheels.bicycling.com/2006/09/women_on_wheels_2.html

Just curious as to what some of you think about it.

In some scenarios women might enjoy a few extra inches; but this "study" hardly makes a case that an additional few inches for women makes any difference at all in safety results.

Perhaps it's just my wildly clashing socks that catch the eye of motorists?
East Hill

No it's those pink gloves. High testosterone and pink don't mix...

I can't say. Whenever I see a female cyclist on my commute, she pedals away faster than I can catch up. :D

No it's those pink gloves. High testosterone and pink don't mix...

I do have blue ones as well. Perhaps I should do some more riding with those, and report back?

East Hill

In some scenarios women might enjoy a few extra inches

So the spam industry keeps telling me.

Well 5" closer passing distance does not tell us anything. I would have to know the sample size and standard deviation and have the raw data. Then I could run the appropriate statistic and find out if there is a significant difference in passing distance that motorists give male and female cyclists. Even if there is a significant difference that does not really mean anything. What we are interested in does the difference pose a real increased risk for male vs female cyclists? That one would be much harder to prove.

Now one can look at the mortality rates of male cyclists vs female cyclists. It is well documented that far more male cyclists meet their demise cycling than females. Men probably cycle more miles than females, this is merely a surmise on my part, and this increased mileage would, in part, explain part of the increased fatalities observed in men. But I suspect that males are far more willing to engage in bone headed behavior than females. I believe that this can be convincingly demonstrated by reading the "Darwin Awards". The Darwin Awards are anecdotal stories of people removing themselves from the gene pool by engaging in stupendously creative and stupid behavior. I will readily concede that the Darwin Awards have absolutely no statistical merit. The interesting thing about it is that all of these people seem to be males.

So the spam industry keeps telling me.:roflmao:

Male drivers may give women slightly more space but that is only one advantage. Women on bicycles tend to get harrassed more than men and the fear of **** is probably the biggest problem facing the female cyclist.