Determining how many employees bike to work is difficult with the limited data that is collected. The most reliable count available is from the U.S. Census Journey to Work data. However, the Census only considers bicycle trips to work by those who regularly commute by bicycle. The Census does not include those employees who may commute by bicycle one or two days a week.

The American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau lets communities see how they are changing – filling in the gaps between each 10-year census. The ACS is sent to a small percentage of the population on a rotating basis.

The National Household Travel Study sponsored by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the Federal Highway Administration collects data on all trips not just trips to work but because of poor sample sizes is a poor source of state or local data.

Thunderhead Alliance, a national coalition of state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations working in unison to break down the barriers to safe bicycling and walking in North American communities used the ACS 2005 data to determine that nationwide, an average of 0.40 percent of trips to work are by bicycle.  In major U.S. cities, the highest bicycle commute share is higher at 0.68 percent.

Percent of Trips to Work by Bicycle in 50 States

Less than 1 percent of work trips in the U.S. are by bicycle. Montana has the highest bicycle commuter share with approximately 1.6 percent of work trips made by bike, followed by Oregon and Idaho. West Virginia has he least with bicycle trips accounting for less than a tenth of 1 percent of all trips to work.

Sources:  ACS (2005) from Thunderhead Alliance Benchmarking 2007

Percent of Trips to Work by Bicycle in Largest U.S. Cities

Bicycling rates are higher in cities than throughout states.  Employees in major U.S. cities are 1.7 times more likely to bike to work than those in the states surveyed. Portland, OR has the highest share of those who bike to work with 3.47 percent of all trips to work by bicycle, followed by  Minneapolis (with 2.42 percent) and Seattle (at 2.31 percent). Kansas City has the lowest bike share of work trips of all major U.S. cities with only 0.02 percent of work trips by bike.

Sources:  ACS (2005) from Thunderhead Alliance Benchmarking 2007

Bicycling & Bicycle Safety Status by State

Sources:  ACS (2005), NHTS (2001-2002), FARS (2003-2005) from Thunderhead Alliance Benchmarking 2007

Bicycling & Bicycle Safety Status by City

Sources:  ACS (2005), NHTS (2001-2002), City Surveys from Thunderhead Alliance Benchmarking 2007

Levels of Cycling and Safety

Sources:  ACS (2005), NHTS (2001-2002), FARS (2003-2005) from Thunderhead Alliance Benchmarking 2007

Eight-five percent of bicycle deaths are persons 16 and older.  The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.  Ninety-five percent of the bicyclists killed in 2006 reportedly weren’t wearing helmets.

Bicycle Crash Facts

• The number of reported bicycle-related injuries has risen in recent years, following a decline from the 1990s. However, only a small fraction, possibly as low as 10% of crashes causing injury are ever recorded by the police.
• In 2006, the average age of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes was 41, and the average age of those injured was 30.
• Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries, with those under 14 years of age accounting for 13% of the fatalities, making this one of the most frequent causes of injury related death for young children. Bicycle helmet use by children 4 to 15 would prevent 39,000 to 45,000 head injuries and 18,000 to 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually.
• Deaths among bicyclists younger than 16 have gone down by 84% since 1975, while deaths among bicyclists 16 and older have more than doubled.
• Twenty-four percent of bicyclists killed in 2006 were alcohol impaired with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above 0.08%.
• Bicyclist deaths in 2006 occurred most often during June-September and between the hours of 6pm and 9pm.
• Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries, with those under 14 years of age accounting for 13% of the fatalities, making this one of the most frequent causes of injury related death for young children.
• Deaths among bicyclists younger than 16 have gone down by 84% since 1975, while deaths among bicyclists 16 and older have more than doubled.
• More than 7 times as many bicyclist deaths in 2006 were males compared with females. At every age more male than female bicyclists were killed and the rates of bicyclist deaths per million people were higher for males than females. The highest rate of bicyclist deaths per million people occurred for 50-54 year-old males.

To Find Local Bicycle Crash Data

To find local bicycle-related injury and fatality data, contact:

• Local or state department of transportation
• Local or state department of health
• Police department
• Hospital or emergency room

Reasons for Bicycling

Where Bicyclists Ride

How Far Do Bicyclists Ride?

The average length of a bicycle trip taken on a typical summer day was 3.9 miles. Trip length was dependent upon purpose. Trips taken for recreation or fitness were longer at 5.6 miles while trips for other purposes averaged 2.2 miles.

Trips of:

Most Common Types of Bicycle-Related Crashes

Annual Crash Data to Download

from www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Traffic Safety Facts 2006: Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
Traffic Safety Facts 2006: Children

Sources for Facts About Bicycling

CDC at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at www.bicyclinginfo.org

Insurance Institute for highway Safety at www.iihs.org

U.S. Department of Transportation’s NCSA at www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/PUBS/810802.pdf

2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors at www.bts.gov/programs/omnibus_surveys/targeted_survey/2002_ national_survey_of_pedestrian_and_bicyclist_attitudes_and_behaviors