TOPIC II: DEMOGRAPHICS OF ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

This topic looks at what we know about who bikes, walks, and takes transit 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. While this data comes with limitations, it provides an insight into the types of people who are more likely to use active transportation. Demographics discussed include gender, age, income, and race/ethnicity.

Data on this page:

• Percent of Bicycling & Walking Trips by Women
• Percent of Bicycling & Walking Commuters Who Are Women
• Percent of Trips by Children and Youth
• Youth Biking and Walking Trips & Distance
• Percent of Trips by Older Adults
• Low-Income Households Bicycling, Walking, & Using Transit
• Rates of Biking and Walking to Work by Household Income
• Percent of Biking & Walking Trips by People of Color
• Rates of Biking and Walking to Work by Race and Ethnicity

Percent of Bicycling & Walking Trips by Women

Percent of Bicycling & Walking Commuters Who Are Women

Percent of Trips by Children and Youth

Data from the 2022 NHTS indicates that youth (people under 16 years old) shows a promising increased in walking and biking. After several consecutive significant drops in the percentage of both walking and biking trips by youth, 2022 NHTS data shows a rebound to near 2009 NHTS levels. Historically, youth have represented a disproportionately high percent of bicycle trips.

The promising increase seen in the proportion of trips by youth completed by biking is also seen in the number of trips and distances biked by youth, but the increase in the proportion of walking trips by youth is not reflected by similar increases in walking trips and distances.

Youth Biking and Walking Trips & Distance

Data from the National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS) estimates that walking to school increased between 2007/8 and 2014, while biking to school stayed relatively consistent. The NCSRTS data is based on “720,000 parent surveys collected by nearly 6,500 schools throughout the United States starting in 2007 and extending through 2014. ¹⁶ ” The parent survey “captures the usual travel mode of students and parents’ perceptions about walking and bicycling between home and school. ¹⁷ ”

Percent of Trips by Older Adults

Low-Income Households Bicycling, Walking, & Using Transit

According to the 2022 NHTS, the proportion of bicycling and walking trips made by people from households with low incomes (incomes of less than $25,000 per year) is similar or slightly more than the percentage of total population from those households (21.2% according to the 2016 ACS).

Data from the Census Bureau has suggested that bicycling and walking are much more common as a means of commute to work at lower income levels. The proportion of workers who walk or bike to work is progressively lower across income categories, up to about $100,000 per year, beyond which the prevalence is fairly stable or slightly higher at very high-income levels.

Rates of Biking and Walking to Work by Household Income

Footnote ²¹

Percent of Biking & Walking Trips by Race

Rates of Biking and Walking to Work by Race and Ethnicity