Stats on Bicycling

• 40% of trips in the United States are two miles or less in length. Twenty five percent of trips in the United States are one mile or less, but 75% of these trips are made by automobile. (2001 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey).

• 50% of work commute trips are five miles or less. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics)

• Hourly bike traffic counts in Marin show how popular cycling is:
  
  
  • Mill Valley Bike Path: 144 bicyclists/hour on weekend: 44 bicyclists/hour on weekday
  • Golden Gate Bridge: 640 bicyclists/hour on weekend: 160 bicyclists/hour on weekday
  • Source: Marin County Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, 2001
    
    
• 46% of Americans bicycle for pleasure. (Source: Marin County Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan 200: footnoted as from the 1986 President's Report on Outdoor Recreation).

• According to an April 1999 Lou Harris Poll, it was reported that "…nearly three million adults - about one in 60 -already commute by bike. This number could rise to 35 million if more bicycle friendly transportation system existed."

• According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) October 2000 Omnibus Household Survey, 41.3 million Americans (20.0%) used a bicycle for transportation in the 30 days measured in the survey. Bicycling is the second most preferred form of transportation after the automobile, ahead of public transportation. Over 9.2 million (22.3%) of the 41.3 million people who bicycled did so more than ten of the 30 days. (League of American Bicyclists.)

• 64% of the American adult population is overweight or obese. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Bicycling is a great way to increase physical activity and fitness. A 130 pound cyclist can burn 402 calories while pedaling 14 miles/hour. A 180 pound cyclist burns 450 calories while pedaling 14 miles/hour.

• According to the US Census, bicycle commuting increased by 9% between 1990 and 2000.