Statistics One-Pager
When People Ride Bikes, Good Things Happen
Bicycling is great for health, good for communities, and a solution to many of our most pressing societal and environmental problems. Here is just a taste of what you can find in Bikes Belong’s online, searchable Statistics Library to help you make the case for bicycling in your community.
Bicycling is for everyone
- Bicycling is the second most popular outdoor activity in the United States. (Outdoor Foundation, 2010)
- 47% of Americans say they would like more bike facilities in their communities. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2008)
- Most trips Americans make are short: 50% are less than 3 miles, 40% are less than 2 miles, and 28% are less than 1 mile. (US Department of Transportation, 2009)
Bicycling can help you live longer and better
- Adults who bike to work have better weight, blood pressure, and insulin levels. (Gordon-Larsen, P., et al., 2009)
- Women who bike 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. (Luoto, R., et al., 2000)
- Adolescents who bicycle are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults. (Menschik, D, et al., 2008)
Bicycling boosts the economy
- The U.S. bicycle industry sold $5.6 billion in bicycles and equipment in 2009. (National Bicycle Dealers Association, 2010)
- More than three times as many new bicycles (14.9 million) are sold in the U.S. each year than cars (4.6 million). (National Bicycle Dealers Association, 2010; Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2010)
- Studies have shown that homes closer to bike paths are more valuable. (Various sources)
Bicycling is less expensive than driving a car
- The average American househould spends $8,758 per year on owning and driving their cars – more than they spend on food. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2010)
- On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save around $10 daily. (Commute Solutions, 2011)
Bicycling reduces road congestion and air pollution
- Traffic congestion wastes nearly 3.9 billion gallons of gas per year in the U.S. (Texas Transportation Institute, 2010)
- For every 1 mile pedaled rather than driven, nearly 1 pound of CO² (0.88) is saved. (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2009)
Bicycling is safe, and together we can make it safer
- The health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by a factor of 20 to one. (Hillman, M., 1992)
- There is safety in numbers: the more cyclists there are, the safer bicycling is. (Jacobsen, P., 2003)
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