Fast Facts

Here are some stats to help you quickly convey the benefits of bicycling. For more detailed stats, click on a link in the left navigation bar for participation, economic, health, facilities, environmental, and safety stats. Keep track of recently added stats, as new statistics are added weekly.

1. It's time to get kids riding. In just one U.S. generation:
   • The percentage of kids who walk or bike to school has dropped from 50% to 15%. Safe Routes to School
   • Childhood obesity has tripled.
     Centers for Disease Control
2. Bicycle commuting beats sitting in traffic.
   • Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 38 hours a year stuck in traffic.
     Texas Transportation Institute
   • This costs the U.S. more than $78 billion in lost productivity and wasted fuel.  Texas Transportation Institute
3. More cycling means less dependence on foreign oil.
   • The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.
     Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Bike Traffic, May 2002
   • 10% of global oil production goes toward fueling America’s cars and trucks.
     Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
4. Riding a bike is cheaper than driving a car.
   • On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save roughly $10 daily and spare the air 10 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.  Commute Solutions, Emissions calculations They also burn 360 calories! SmartTrips
   • Based on gas prices of about $4/gallon, the annual direct cost of owning, operating, and driving a passenger car roughly 15,000 miles is nearly $14,000. (It costs about $300 a year to maintain a bike.)  Commute Solutions; Moritz, 1997 
5. Biking can help you live longer.
   • Bicycling for transportation can reduce mortality by 35 to 40%. Matthews et al., Andersen et al.
     
6. Bicycling is good for the economy.
   • The U.S. bicycle industry sold $6.1 billion in bicycles and equipment (retail value) in 2007.
     National Sporting Goods Association