The Best Bike Is a Step

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Its universal design allows anybody to ride one in almost any circumstance.

As a child, I got introduced to gender and bicycles at about the same time. My parents had matching pearlescent green Diamondbacks, but my dad had a large front triangle while my mom had a step-through. It made sense, they suggested, because women had different needs on the bike than men. Men wore pants and had longer legs; they could step over a high top tube, while women in dresses could not. The broad implication was that men and women have different needs that, in a binary society, were met with two different solutions.

This gendered distinction in bicycle geometry is as old as the modern bicycle itself. When the first bicycles were invented early in the 19th century, they were considered dangerous toys for young men. With pedals directly mounted to the front hub, any additional fabric between a rider's legs would get caught in the spokes. Women—whose contemporary attire revolved around dresses—were virtually excluded from using what were known as high-wheeler (or "penny-farthing") bikes. Then, in the late 19th century, J.K. Starley's Rover Safety Bicycle eschewed the acrobatic mounting requirements and introduced the chain-drive bicycle with matching wheels. By moving the pedals away from the wheels, the safety bicycle made cycling significantly less dangerous and allowed dress-wearing women who typically rode tricycles to find their way onto two-wheeled bikes. The association between women and the safety bike stuck. And it sustained well into the 20th century.

By the 1970s, most of the world had well-entrenched gendered terminology for bike frames: Men rode triangular frames, while women should ride step-throughs, regardless of attire. The only place this distinction seemed to fade was in the Netherlands, where late-19th-century investments in infrastructure encouraged bicycle use for transport. A safety-bike-inspired variant of a step-through, called an omafiets (meaning grandma's bicycle), became the perfect tool for the Dutch to commute on these new bike paths. The Dutch found that a step-through bike was more practical for low-speed travel, frequent dismounts, and mixed attire—in other words, utility. While many bike manufacturers had shifted to accommodate the fitness market, Dutch bikes remained a tool for the people.

At its core, the step-through bike's popularity is its universal design, which serves as many riders as possible, extending benefits even to those for whom it was not originally intended. Wearing a long coat? You might not be able to ride a road bike, but you can certainly ride a step-through. Running errands? That road bike won't serve you well, but a step-through certainly will. Unless you’re prioritizing distance or exercise, it makes sense to opt for the step-through every time.

Bike-share programs demonstrate the step-through's broad appeal across the United States. Nearly all use step-through bikes because the aim is to provide the most utility to as many riders as possible. Bike-share usage would be significantly lower if the offerings catered to speed and fitness. Like curb cuts, the universal design properties of the step-through bicycle mean that they excel for a specific audience but benefit everyone.

Able-bodied adults are not the only beneficiaries of the step-through design. Children's bikes typically have a step-through top tube to compensate for kids’ limited dexterity. The same is true for e-bikes, which are significantly heavier and would otherwise be cumbersome to mount and dismount. The use of a step-through frame in both contexts is a mobility aid. It affords the privilege and freedom of riding to those not considered in bicycles’ earliest incarnations.

While the frame geometry of a modern step-through is crucial, other commonly associated components aid with comfort and utility. Step-through bikes often are paired with high, swept-back handlebars and wide, padded saddles. An upright riding position has many benefits. Not only is the riding position more comfortable, but it also allows for a broader adjustment range without causing rider strain. Ultimately, these features get more people of all abilities to ride bikes and better actualize the public infrastructure.

Following decades of effort, highway-oriented American cities are slowly becoming more navigable by bike through civic technologies developed over a century ago in the Netherlands. With bike accessibility comes a demand for practical bikes with chain guards and thick tubing, and accessibility features like the step-through frame and upright riding position. What the step-through captured a century ago (and that the Dutch harnessed early by way of infrastructure investment) was that accessibility features are valuable for everyone, not just those with additional needs not met by existing solutions—as with women and the original safety bicycle. A bike that serves only a select few should not be the norm but the exception. American bike brands now recognize that almost everyone, regardless of gender or morphology, should ride a step-through for transport. It is the universal design solution to the mechanical problems introduced by the early bicycle, and it's high time the step-through receives its due

Step-through bikes come in all shapes and sizes. These are a few of our favorites.

The Model 1's list of stock features is robust. The step-through frame cleanly hides a 652W battery that powers the 500W rear hub motor. In addition to the electric assist are several practical features for commuting or around-town use: rear rack, metal fenders, kickstand, and front light.

A big part of the Model 1's smooth ride feel comes from the bike's numerous comfort features. First up is the suspension fork that soaks up bumps and cracks on the road or bike path. Then there is a suspension seatpost topped with a super-cushy elastomer spring saddle. An adjustable rise stem, sweptback handlebar, and ergonomic grips top it all off.

The mid-drive Brose motor–equipped Prodigy has features and performance matching some bikes double its price. Ride1Up combines a classic step-through profile with modern touches like an integrated battery and sleek tube shapes into a great package.

Based on the style of the simple and practical step-through bikes used in the Netherlands, this utilitarian bike has just the basics. And that's what makes it so great.

The Adventure's low step-over height makes it ideal for riders who find it difficult to get on or off other step-through bikes. This model features a suspension fork and seatpost, a cushy saddle, and an adjustable stem for extra comfort.

A fat tire, mountain bike-style e-bike, Aventure.2 rides smoothly and intuitively. The torque sensor allows better control over the acceleration of Aventure's 750W rear hub motor. compared to similar bikes with cadence sensors. The Aventure.2 has an updated head unit interface, integrated turn signals, front light, rear rack, and fenders. We found the Aventure.2 well-suited for commutes (especially on snowy days and gravel pathways) and off-road on doubletrack trails. However, the bike's weight and components limit its functionality on singletrack for more aggressive mountain bike riding.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Aithne is a commuter and urban bike tester of mountain bike experience. Between rides, she produces experimental stories at The Atlantic and organizes media labor.

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