Women's Bike Month Tips & Resources

There are a lot of women working behind the scenes to run great bike share programs across the country – including General Managers, Operations Managers, Bike Mechanics, Field Technicians and more. We came together to write some tips that we find helpful for biking safely and feeling confident when riding. We hope you’ll find them useful too!

  • Try some short trips in your neighborhood. You don’t have to ride to work daily to get the benefits of biking!
  • Interested in commuting by bike? Plan your route in advance, and ask friends who bike for advice. Try a “test ride” on a Sunday morning when traffic is light.
  • Not sure what to wear? Bike share bicycles are built for a slower ride and easier pedaling, which means less worry about working up a sweat. The step-through frame makes it easy to ride in either pants or skirts, and the wide pedals accommodate a variety of shoes.
  • Before you ride, adjust the bike seat to a height you’re comfortable with, so you can easily touch down if you need to stop in traffic. Use the numbered markers on the side of the seat post to remember your setting for next time.
  • Practice shifting gears when you’re riding in a flat area. That way, you’ll know how to downshift before you find yourself in the middle of an incline!
  • Downshift if you have to stop in the middle of your trip, so it’s easier to start back up again when the light turns green.
  • Make your presence known! Use hand signals to indicate turning, ring your bell to alert pedestrians and other cyclists when necessary, and make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you.
  • Put your bag in the basket on the front of the bike instead of trying to wear it during your ride, so it doesn’t swing around and throw off your balance. (Added perk: no back sweat.)
  • Wear a helmet while riding. Make sure yours fits snugly, wear it level on your head, and always buckle the chin strap.

Have a tip of your own? Post it on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #WomensBike and we’ll pick some to include on this site.

LOCAL CYCLING RESOURCES

For more info on cycling in and around Portland, check out the following resources:

  • Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) – All the maps, lists of shops, planning tools and general information about riding in Portland you could want.
  • The Street Trust (formerly the Bicycle Transportation Alliance) – Inspiring more women to incorporate biking into their lives (Facebook page)
  • Gladys Bikes - A women-focused, full-service bike repair and sales shop.
  • In Her Steps - African American Women 1900 - 1940. A self-guided walking or biking tour in Portland, OR.
  • Women Bike: Role Models - A fresh blog series profiling local Portland women who are riding bikes.
  • Women on Wheels – Empowering women to travel by bicycle with rides, workshops and social events
  • Bikin' Betties – Facebook community of female cyclists that hosts a weekly ladies-only ride
  • Black Girls Do Bike – Supporting women of color who share a passion for cycling
  • Mujeres en Movimiento – Supporting healthy active lifestyles for Latinas through bicycling
  • Komorebi Cycling Team – Portland-based cycling group for "women who go on backpacking adventures"
  • Friends on Bikes – Fostering a community of women of color who ride bikes in Portland, OR.
  • Portland Society – The Portland Society is a group of women who are passionate about bicycling, and making Portland a better place to live, work and ride.
  • Ride like a Girl – Seeking to transform the non-riding woman into a skilled, self-sufficient and confident bicyclist who feels capable of riding independently and with her significant other, friends or other cycling groups.
  • Sugar Wheel Works – Woman-owned wheel building services and classes.
  • Portland Wheelmen – Club rides for women and men every day of the week.
  • Bike Farm – Bike Farm is an all volunteer-run collective dedicated to every aspect of bicycle education, from safe commuting to repair. They host a Women & Trans Wrench Nights 1st & 3rd Tuesday every month.
  • Community Cycling Center – Their vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected.
  • Ladies Let’s Ride – Our purpose is to gear up, get on, get out, and get going, feel the wind at our backs while having fun with like minded women.
  • Portland State University Bike Hub – PSU campus area bike shop offers repair services, workshops and classes for all Portlanders.