Men's and women's bicycles.....?

Question

Just bought myself a bicycle. Why do men's bikes have a crossbar but women's bikes don't?

Answer 1

it's from when girls had long dresses but i think to-day it shouldn't matter as most girls ware trousers  anyway

Answer 2

I think it might be because women are less likely to be able to stand astride a crossbar when stopped (they are shorter). But I don't know why they dont make all bikes the same shape, it would make more sense!

Answer 3

Skirts and crossbars dont mix

Answer 4

Skirts and modesty

Answer 5

so the ladies can wear a DRESS and it wont cause the buildingmen to scream WOOO as she rides past

how sexist - what if the man wants to wear a dress?? i mean, honestly!

EDIT: im being as serious as i possibly can :P

Answer 6

Women's bikes have traditionally been supplied with a "step-through" frame to allow them to wear long dresses and skirts whilst riding and also to avoid requiring them to throw their leg over the back of the bike - not very ladylike.  For the same reasons, women wishing to ride horses would ride side-saddle (see link), to avoid scruffing up their dresses.  See the third link for a picture of a woman in long dress riding astride a horse - this is what prompted the step-through bicycle frame.  

One thing to note is that if you are a heavy rider (like me) or like to carry luggage (like me) on your bike, it's best to avoid step-through frames.  Crossbars give an added stability and structural rigidity to the frame that makes carrying loads much easier.

Answer 7

Because women traditonally wore long skirts, which would have been hitched up on the crossbar. Also, mounting a bicycle with a crossbar is like mounting a horse - quite a masculine task. It is much more feminine for a woman to mount a bicycle with a step-through frame.