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 and Walking Trips by Purpose, According to the 2022 National Household Travel Survey
Trends in Prevalence of Biking & Walking for All Trips
Percent of All Trips by Walking or Biking
Biking and Walking by Trips & Distance
Trends in Rates of Bicycling & Walking for Commuting
Annual 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.
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 and Walking Trips by Purpose, According to 2022 National Household Travel Survey
For 2001 National Household Travel Survey data see The Alliance for Biking and Walking (2010). Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2010 Benchmarking Available at https://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/2010BenchmarkingReport.pdf.
Ralph Buehler (2017). Analysis of National Household Travel Survey data for the League of American Bicyclists
Compare to Figure 1.1.2. Trends in Rates of Bicycling and Walking for Commuting.
Ralph Buehler (2017). Analysis of 2017 and 2009 National Household Travel Survey data for the League of American Bicyclists.
McGuckin and A. Fucci (2017). FHWA-PL-18-019. Summary of Travel Trends: 2017 National Household Travel Survey. Available at https://nhts. ornl.gov/assets/2017_nhts_summary_travel_trends.pdf.
U.S. Census Bureau. Means of Transportation to Work: 1990 and 1980 Decennial Census. Available at https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/com- muting/tables/time-series/journey/mode6790.txt.
U.S. Census Bureau (2006-2016). American Community Survey Tables B08006, S0801, C08006. Available at https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/ jsf/pages/index.xhtml.
U.S. Census Bureau (2006-2016). American Community Survey Tables B08006, S0801, C08006. Available at https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/ jsf/pages/index.xhtml.
U.S. Census Bureau (2006-2016). American Community Survey Tables B08006 1-year estimates. Available at https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/ jsf/pages/index.xhtml.
Ralph Buehler (2017). Analysis of National Household Travel Survey data for the League of American Bicyclists
Ralph Buehler (2017). Analysis of National Household Travel Survey data for the League of American Bicyclists
