Just in time for National Bike Month, the U.S. Census Bureau has released its first report that focuses solely on bicycling and walking to work. According to the report, the number of people bicycling to work has increased by about 60% since the 2000 Census. Walking to work has increased, too, but not nearly as much. If you want to try bicycling as a mode of commuting, look for a local event during Bike to Work Week, May 16 – 20.
Modes Less Traveled—Bicycling and Walking to Work in the United States: 2008–2012
According to the report, about 786,000 people biked to work in 2008-2012 vs 488,000 in 2000. It was the largest percentage jump of any mode of commuting. Of large cities, Portland, Oregon, had the highest rate of biking to work at about 6%. That is up from 1.8% in 2000.
Biking to work is far more common in small and medium sized cities. The city with the very highest rate was the small city Davis, California, at 18.6%. Among medium sized cities, Boulder, Colorado, had the highest rate of commuting by bike at 10.5%.
Walking is Still Popular
Walking to work is still more common than bicycling, but has not increased as much. About 2.8% of people in the U.S. walk to work, while only 0.6% ride their bikes. A whopping 42.4% of commuters in Ithaca, New York, walk. Ithaca is listed as a small city. For medium cities, Cambridge, Massachusetts, had the highest rate at 24%, and among large cities, Boston had the most people walking to work at 15.1%.
If you are considering taking up bicycling as your mode of commuting, check out our general Bicycle Safety Tips and Tips for a Safe Commute.
About Sandra Dalton
