Many U.S. cities are seeing an increase in bicycle commuters, according to new a U.S. Census Bureau report.
Nationwide, the number of people who traveled to work by bike increased roughly 60% during the last decade, from 488,000 in 2000 to 786,000 annually during the 2008-2012 period. This is the largest percentage increase of all commuting modes tracked by the 2000 Census and the 2008-2012 American Community Survey.
"In recent years, many communities have taken steps to support more transportation options, such as bicycling and walking," said Brian McKenzie, a Census Bureau sociologist and the report's author. "For example, many cities have invested in bike share programs, bike lanes and more pedestrian-friendly streets."
While bicyclists account for just 0.6 percent of all commuters, some of the nation's largest cities have more than doubled their rates since 2000. Portland, Ore., had the highest bicycle commuting rate, at 6.1%, up from 1.8% in 2000. In Minneapolis, the rate increased from 1.9% to 4.1%.
The report also looks at the number of people who walk to work. After steadily decreasing since 1980, the percent of people who walk to work has stabilized since 2000. In 1980, 5.6% of workers walked to work, and that rate declined to 2.9% by 2000. However, in the 2008-2012 period, the rate of walkers remained statistically unchanged from 2000. Among larger cities, Boston had the highest rate of walking to work at 15.1%.
The report, "Modes Less Traveled — Bicycling and Walking to Work in the United States: 2008-2012," highlights the trends and socio-economic and geographic differences between motorized and nonmotorized commutes.
Biking to Work Highlights:
- The West had the highest rate of biking to work at 1.1%, and the South had the lowest rate at 0.3%.
- Among large cities, Portland, Ore., had the highest bicycle-commuting rate at 6.1%.
- The median commute time for those who bike to work was about 19.3 minutes.
- Men were more likely to bike to work than women were. The rate of bicycle commuting for men was more than double that of women, 0.8% compared with 0.3%.
- Those with a graduate or professional degree or higher and those with less than a high school degree had the highest rates of biking to work, at 0.9% and 0.7%, respectively.
- 1.5% of those with an income of $10,000 or less commuted to work by bicycle, the highest rate of bicycle commuting by any income category.
- African-Americans had the lowest rate of biking to work at 0.3%, compared with some other race or two or more races who had the highest rate at 0.8%.
Walking to Work Highlights:
- The Northeast showed the highest rate of walking to work at 4.7% of workers. Several of the places with high rates were "college towns," including Ithaca, N.Y., where about 42.4% walked to work. The South had the lowest rate at 1.8%. Among large cities, Boston was one of the highest walking-to-work cities at 15.1%.
- Workers living in core cities walked to work at a rate of 4.3%, compared with 2.4% for workers in suburbs.
- The median commute time for those who walk to work was 11.5 minutes, and they left their home at later hours than other modes.
- Men walked to work at a rate of 2.9% compared with 2.8% for women.
- Those with less than a high school degree had the highest rate of walking to work at 3.7%, followed by those with graduate or professional degrees at 2.7%.
- 8.2% of those with an income of $10,000 or less walked to work, the highest rate of walking to work by any income category.
- Asians and workers of some other race or two or more races had the highest rate of walking to work at 4.0% and 4.2%, respectively.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Apr 5, 2022
The art of master planning, with Mike Aziz of Cooper Robertson
Mike Aziz, AIA, LEED AP, Partner and Director of Urban Design with Cooper Robertson, discusses his firm's design for the redevelopment of a Connecticut town's riverfront.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 5, 2022
New Covenant House New York contains multiple services for youth in crisis
The new Covenant House New York, a crisis shelter for homeless youth in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, provides a temporary home and multiple services for young people.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Apr 1, 2022
Video surveillance systems for multifamily housing projects
This introductory course provides detailed technical information and advice from security expert Michael Silva, CPP, on designing a video surveillance system for multifamily housing communities – apartments, condominiums, townhouses, or senior living communities. Technical advice on choosing the right type of cameras and optimizing the exterior lighting for their use is offered.
K-12 Schools | Apr 1, 2022
Charleston County’s award-winning career and technical education high school
BD+C Executive Editor Rob Cassidy talks with the team behind the award-winning Cooper River Center for Advanced Studies, a Career|Technical Education high school in Charleston County, S.C.
Modular Building | Mar 31, 2022
Rick Murdock’s dream multifamily housing factory
Modular housing leader Rick Murdock had a vision: Why not use robotic systems to automate the production of affordable modular housing? Now that vision is a reality.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 29, 2022
Here’s why the U.S. needs more ‘TOD’ housing
Transit-oriented developments help address the housing affordability issue that many cities and suburbs are facing.
Contractors | Mar 28, 2022
Amid supply chain woes, building teams employ extreme procurement measures
Project teams are looking to eliminate much of the guesswork around product availability and price inflation by employing early bulk-purchasing measures for entire building projects.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 28, 2022
Is your firm a reconstruction sector giant?
Is your firm active in the U.S. building reconstruction, renovation, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse markets? We invite you to participate in BD+C's inaugural Reconstruction Market Research Report.
Legislation | Mar 28, 2022
LEED Platinum office tower faces millions in fines due to New York’s Local Law 97
One Bryant Park, also known as the Bank of America Tower, in Manhattan faces an estimated $2.4 million in annual fines when New York City’s York’s Local Law 97 goes into effect.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 25, 2022
Health group converts bank building to drive-thru clinic
Edward-Elmhurst Health and JTS Architects had to get creative when turning an American Chartered Bank into a drive-thru clinic for outpatient testing and vaccinations.