National: Rates Of Biking & Walking

This topic looks at what we know about the prevalence of biking and walking based on public data. Major data sources include the annual American Community Survey by the Census Bureau and the periodic National Household Travel Survey by the US Department of Transportation.

Data on this page:

• Percent of All Trips by Walking or Biking
• Biking and Walking by Trips, Time, & Distance
• Percentage of Workers who Primarily Bike or Walk to Work Over Time
• Number and Percent of People Biking to Work
• Number and Percent of People Walking to Work
• Bicycling, Walking, and Scooting Trips by Purpose, According to 2022 National Household Travel Survey

Trends in Prevalence of Biking & Walking for All Trips

Data from the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) suggests that bicycling has been relatively stable as a percentage of all trips in the United States. ¹ Between 2009 and 2017, about 1% of all trips in the United States were taken by bicycle. This stands in contrast to commuting data, which suggests an increase in the proportion of workers who commute by bicycle. ²

Percent of All Trips by Walking or Biking

Over the same time, there was a statistically significant increase in walking trips as a percentage of all trips, increasing from 10.5% of all trips to 11.9% of all trips. This also stands in contrast to commuting data, which suggests a slight decrease in the proportion of workers who walk to work. ³

Biking and Walking by Trips, Time, & Distance

NHTS data on total trips, minutes, and distance of trips by bicycling and walking appear consistent with the data on mode share. The increase in walking trips is statistically significant. ⁴ Note: Changes to the methodology of the NHTS between 2009 and 2017 mean that changes in data should be interpreted with caution. ⁵

Trends in Rates of Bicycling & Walking for Commuting

Data on bicycling and walking to work comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. The decennial census reported on rates of bicycling and walking to work starting in 1980. ⁶

Percentage of Workers who Primarily Bike or Walk to Work Over Time

After the 2000 decennial census, the Census Bureau began using a continuous survey that has become the American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS has provided yearly estimates of the rate of biking and walking to work since 2005. Since ACS data has allowed yearly tracking of rates of biking and walking to work, researchers and practitioners have gained valuable insights into changes in those rates over time.

At a national level, ACS data show that there has been an increase in the rate of commuting to work by bicycle. While the overall proportion of workers who bicycle to work remains low, the prevalence has increased approximately 50%, from .4% in 2005 to .6% in 2016. ⁷

Data from the Census Bureau shows considerable decreases in the proportion of workers who walk to work, from a high   of 5.6% in 1980 to a low of 2.5% in 2005. After a slight increase in 2006, the proportion has remained near 3%, with slight declines in recent years. ⁸

Number & Percent of People Biking to Work

Footnote ⁹

Number & Percent of People Walking to Work

Footnote ¹⁰

Bicycling, Walking, and Scooting Trips by Purpose, According to 2022 National Household Travel Survey

While 2022 NHTS data is based on smaller than usual sample sizes for bicycling, walking, transit, and other modes, the estimated trip purposes shown above for bicycling and walking are similar to those reported in the past. In the 2009 and 2017 NHTS, biking trips to “earn a living” were 12.7% of bicycling trips to 20.2% of bicycling trips, respectively. This NHTS data tells us that the most common form of information on the prevalence of biking and walking, the American Community Survey's estimates of people who primarily bike or walk to work, likely does not capture 80% or more of people who bike and walk.