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How many bicycles
are sold each year? Why do people ride? What are the numbers on bicycling
crashes? Find answers to these and other questions by clicking on
the links below.
How
many people ride bikes?
Other
national transportation-related surveys that include bicycling
Why
do people ride?
How
many bicycles are sold each year?
How
many cyclists are killed and injured each year?
Who
is involved in bicycle crashes?
What
is the economic cost of crashes involving bicyclists?
How
many bicycles are stolen each year?
What
is the potential to increase bicycle use?
How
safe do people feel bicycling?
How
much has been spent by the Federal Government on improving conditions
for bicycling?
Random
Numbers
How many people ride bikes?
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has recently initiated a series
of monthly, transportation-related national surveys. In August, September,
and October of 2000, approximately one-in-five adults (41.3 million)
in the United States reported using a bicycle in the last 30 days.
Of those people, 22 percent (9.2 million) used their bicycle on more
than 10 of the previous 30 days.
| Total
riding |
41,342,000 |
20
percent of national sample |
| 1-2
days |
15,656,267 |
38% |
| 3-5
days |
10,915,474 |
26% |
| 6-10
days |
5,557,907 |
13% |
| plus
10 days |
9,212,711 |
22% |
|
The number of people
using their bicycles in the last 30 days fell to 14 percent (29 million)
in December and to 10 percent (19 million) in January and February
of 2001. http://www.bts.gov/omnibus/results/october/omnibus_freq_oct.htm
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Other national transportation-related surveys that include bicycling:
United States Census, 1990:
Percentage of journeys to work by bicycle: 0.4% (466,856 people)
http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/journey/usmode90.txt
Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 1995:
Percentage of trips: 0.7% (approximately 3 billion miles, and 9 million
daily bicycle trips)
http://www-cta.ornl.gov/npts/1995/Doc/trends_report.pdf
National Sporting Goods Association, 1999:
Number of people aged seven and older who participated more than once:
42.4 million.
http://www.nsga.org/public/articles/details.cfm?id=28
Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association,
1998:
People aged six and older who participated at least once in recreational
bicycling: 54.6 million
http://www.sgma.com
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Why do people ride?
The BTS survey found that in October 2000, of the 41 million people
riding bicycles the majority reported doing so for recreation (54
percent) and exercise (35 percent). Seven percent (2.9 million people)
reported commuting to work by bicycle as the primary use of the bicycle
during the previous 30 days.
Similar numbers can be found in the:
| Nationwide
Personal Transportation Survey, 1995 Purpose of Bicycle
Trips: |
| Earning
a living |
8%
(compared to 20.3% for all modes) |
| Personal/Family
business |
22%
(compared to 45.9% for all modes) |
| Social/Recreational |
60%
(compared to 24.9% for all modes) |
| School/church/civic |
9%
(compared to 8.8% for all modes) |
|
| National
Sporting Goods Association, Purpose of Bicycle Trips:
|
| Commuting |
10% |
| Recreation |
82% |
| Fitness |
26% |
| Racing |
1%
|
|
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How many bicycles
are sold each year?
Figures
compiled by Bicycle Retailer and Industry News http://www.bicycleretailer.com/2000media/statistics.art/statistics.pdf
from a variety of sources show that in 1998 16.1 million bicycles
were sold in the United States, of which 11.2 million were "adult"
bicycles with wheels greater than 20 inches. In recent years the
number of adult bicycles sold (millions) has been:
| Year |
Adult |
Child |
Total |
| 1998 |
11.2 |
4.9 |
16.1 |
| 1997 |
11.0 |
4.8 |
15.8 |
| 1996 |
10.9 |
4.6 |
15.5 |
| 1995 |
12.0 |
4.0 |
16.0 |
| 1994 |
12.5 |
4.2 |
16.7 |
| 1993 |
13.0 |
4.0 |
17.0 |
| 1992 |
11.6 |
3.8 |
15.4 |
| 1991 |
11.6 |
3.5 |
15.1 |
| 1990 |
10.8 |
|
|
|
The Bicycle Market
Research Institute estimates the total value of the overall US bicycle
market has grown from $3.6 billion in 1990 to $5.6 billion in 1998.
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How many cyclists are killed and injured each year?
In 1999, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/pdf/PedCycle99.pdf
reports that 750 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles
and 51,000 were injured. These numbers represent 2 percent of the
total number of people killed and injured in traffic crashes. In recent
years, the number of fatalities has remained around the 800 mark:
| Year |
Fatalities |
Injuries |
| 1999 |
750 |
51,000 |
| 1998 |
760 |
53,000 |
| 1997 |
814 |
58,000 |
| 1996 |
765 |
59,000 |
| 1995 |
833 |
61,000 |
| 1994 |
802 |
|
| 1993 |
816 |
68,000 |
| 1992 |
723 |
|
| 1991 |
843 |
|
| 1990 |
859 |
|
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However, a significant
number of bicycle crashes requiring emergency room treatment are not
included in these reported fatalities and injuries. Studies indicate
that as few as ten percent of injury crashes are reported to the police
as they do not involve a motor vehicle, and/or do not happen on the
roadway. Indeed, a recent Federal Highway Administration study found
that 70 percent of bicycle injury events in emergency rooms did not
involve a motor vehicle and 31 percent of bicyclists were injured
in non-roadway locations. The number of bicyclists visiting hospital
emergency rooms is estimated to be in excess of 500,000 per year.
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Who is involved in bicycle crashes?
In 1999, the average age of cyclists killed in crashes with motor
vehicles was 32.4 years, up from 24.2 years in 1989. Most of those
killed in 1999 were male (88 percent) and between the ages of 5 and
44 (72 percent). http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/pdf/PedCycle99.pdf
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What is the economic cost of crashes involving bicyclists?
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that the economic cost
of each person killed in a traffic crash to be $3,368,615 (1999 dollars).
Multiplying this number by the 750 bicyclists killed in 1999 totals
a staggering $2.5 billion. (Source: The Costs of Highway Crashes,
1991.)
The study also calculates the costs per crash for selected crash types.
In 1999 dollars, the cost per crash involving a bicyclist was $116,065.
Multiplying this number by the 51,000 reported injury crashes in 1999
totals $5.9 billion.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a similar report
documenting the costs of crashes, but does not include the cost of
"pain, suffering and lost quality of life" in their calculation. NHTSA
estimates the cost of a fatality to be $933,000 and a serious injury
to be $790,000. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/economic/ecosummary.html
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How many bicycles are stolen each year?
In 1999, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 7 million "larceny/thefts"
of which 4.7 percent (approx. 330,000) were bicycle thefts. The average
value of a stolen bicycle was estimated at $338, giving a total estimated
loss due to bicycle thefts of approximately $112 million. http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/Cius_99/99crime/99c2_09.pdf
The National Bike Registry estimates that the FBI only hears about
one-third of the bicycles stolen each year.
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What is the potential to increase bicycle use?
In 1995, Parkwood Research Associates conducted a survey for Rodale
Press in which respondents were asked what their current primary means
of travel was, and "all things being equal, and if good facilities
for each existed, which of these means would you prefer the most"?
The percentage of people bicycling and walking rose from 5 percent
to 13 percent while the percentage of people driving alone fell from
76 percent to 56 percent. (Source: Pathways for People, Rodale Press)
The survey also asked participants who had ridden in the last year,
"do you think you would sometimes commute to work by bicycle, or commute
more often if:…
There were more safe bikes on roads and highways? Yes, 39 percent
There were showers, lockers and secure bike storage at work? Yes,
36 percent
There were financial or other incentives from your employer? Yes,
36 percent
There were safe, separate designated bike paths? Yes, 40 percent
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How safe do people feel bicycling?
The Omnibus Survey completed for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics
in August 2000 asked all respondents how safe they felt using different
modes of transport. When asked how safe they felt
| "Riding
a bicycle in or near traffic", the answers were: |
|
30 percent felt
Very Unsafe
28 percent felt Unsafe
24 percent were Neutral
8 percent felt Safe
10 percent felt Very Safe
| "Driving
or riding on the nation's highways", the answers were:
|
|
8 percent felt
Very Unsafe
10 percent felt Unsafe
37 percent were Neutral
23 percent felt Safe
21 percent felt Very Safe
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How much has been spent by the Federal Government on improving
conditions for bicycling?
In the years before passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991, Federal spending on bicycling and walking
facilities was approximately $4-6 million per annum. Since then, spending
of Federal funds by States has grown to more $296 million in FY 2000.
| Year |
Obligation
(in millions) |
| 2000 |
$296 |
| 1999 |
$204 |
| 1998 |
$217 |
| 1997 |
$238.7 |
| 1996 |
$197.2 |
| 1995 |
$178.6 |
| 1994 |
$112.6 |
| 1993 |
$33.6 |
| 1992 |
$22.9 |
| 1991 |
$17.9 |
| 1990 |
$6.6 |
| 1989 |
$5.4 |
| 1988 |
$4.9 |
|
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Random Numbers
Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey
The average commute trip (for all modes) has increased from 8.5 miles
in 1983 to 11.6 miles in 1995; but 44 percent of commute trips are
still five miles or less
More than 82 percent of trips five miles or less are made by car,
passenger van, SUV, pick-up truck or other truck/RV. 1.3 percent of
trips of five miles or less are made by bicycle.
Approximately 75 percent of trips one mile or less are made by motor
vehicle.
8 million households have no access to a car. 19 million households
have three or more vehicles.
Support for bicycling and walking
A 1997 survey of US voters found strong support for Federal funding
for bicycling. The survey, by Lake, Sosin, Snell and Associates for
the Bikes Belong! campaign found that:
64 percent of voters support using money from Federal gasoline taxes
for things like bike trails, bike lanes and sidewalks; 25 percent
"strongly support" this. Even a majority of those who do not ride
bikes support this statement.
79 percent of voters described as "convincing" the message that "bike
trails and lanes are important to creating safe communities for our
children", including 46 percent who found this "very convincing".
37 percent of voters volunteered that safety concerns were the most
important reason for funding bike trails and lanes.
A 1994 survey of house-buying preferences, by American Lives, Inc.,
found that 74 percent of home buyers said the presence of walking
and biking trails is very or extremely important in their choice of
location. This answer was fourth, behind "Quiet, low traffic area"
at 93 percent, "designed with cul-de-sac streets, circles and courts"
at 77 percent, and "lots of natural, open space" at 77 percent.
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© Copyright 2001 Pedestrian and Bicycle
Information Center
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