Report Finds Emerging Cycling Population That Looks Like America
A promising new report says cycling is booming across the United States, with the biggest gains coming from young people, women, and people of color getting on bikes.
A project of the League of American Bicyclists and the Sierra Club, “The New Majority: Pedaling Towards Equity” [PDF] finds that the number of bike trips in the U.S. doubled from 1.7 billion in 2001 to more than four billion in 2009. The study is based on data from U.S. DOT, the Census Bureau, academic studies and other sources.
From the Bike League Blog:
According to the report, the fastest growth in bicycling over the last decade is among the Hispanic, African American and Asian American populations, which grew from 16% of all bike trips in 2001 to 23% in 2009.
According to a national poll, more than 85% of people of color (African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and mixed race) have a positive view of bicyclists and 71% say their community would be a better place to live if bicycling were safer and more comfortable.
That support is true among the next generation, as well: 89% of young adults -- aged 18-29 -- have a positive view of bicyclists at and 75% agree that their community would be a better place to live if biking and walking were safer and more comfortable.
The report profiles efforts to bring safer streets to areas where more people are riding, or where there is potential for growth, but bike infrastructure is inadequate. In Los Angeles, for example, neighborhoods with the highest percentages of people of color had less cycling infrastructure, and areas with the lowest median household income suffered the highest number of cyclist and pedestrian crashes, according to the report.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Tuesday’s Headlines: Don’t Look Up Edition
It's hard to believe that it's going to rain again today, plus other more important news.
Another Flip-Flop: City Hall Allegedly Pauses Almost-Done Underhill Ave. Bike Boulevard
City Hall is intervening in yet another street redesign project, and supporters fear it could be the start of dismantling other improvements.
Analysis: Everyone Agrees — Less Parking Means More Housing
Let's take a second-day look at Mayor Adams's "City of Yes" zoning proposal to do away with mandatory parking in new developments.
What is the Life of a Dead Pedestrian Worth?
A cop laughed that a normal person is only worth $11,000 — and that figure was partly due to his racism, but also how little we value the lives of people on foot.
Monday’s Headlines: ‘What is Up With All These Flip-Flops, Mayor?’ Edition
It's the same old story with this mayor and his chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin. Plus other news.
