Studies have investigated how drivers operate around cyclists, and they’ve discovered something interesting: Your gender may play a role. When looking at how drivers pass cyclists, it appears that they give roughly 10% more space to female cyclists than male cyclists. This can increase their safety and reduce the odds of a collision between the bike and the motor vehicle.
This is not just anecdotal evidence from looking at accident statistics. Some researchers have actually tested it by wearing wigs and altering their appearance to appear female. Even though the same rider was on the bike in both cases, drivers would give him more space if he was wearing the wig and so they thought he was female while overtaking the bike.
Why does this happen?
What researchers aren’t entirely sure about is why this happens. Some have speculated that drivers are more worried that female cyclists will be injured in a collision. It could also be that the majority of cyclists are male, so drivers are surprised to see female cyclists and it alters how they react to her presence on the road.
Regardless of the reason, it shows that drivers could take steps to be safer around all cyclists and that they intentionally choose not to in many cases. Male cyclists face an increased level of danger that could be avoided if drivers just treated everyone with the same level of care.
Unfortunately, though, many drivers will act aggressively or negligently around both male and female cyclists. If you suffer serious injuries in an accident, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.