Volume II: Findings Report

NationalSurveyofBicyclistandPedestrianAttitudesandBehavior

VOLUME II

FINDINGS REPORT

FinalReport

This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the interest of information exchange. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The United States Government assumes no liability for its content or use thereof. If trade or manufacturers’ names or products are mentioned, it is because they are considered essential to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.

Technical Report Documentation Page

1. Report No.

DOT HS 810 972

2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Volume II: Findings Report

National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian

Attitudes and Behavior

5. Report Date

August 2008

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Dawn Royal, Darby Miller-Steiger 8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

The Gallup Organization 901 F Street NW.

Suite 400

Washington DC 20004

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTNH22-01-F-05139

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Office of Behavioral Safety & Research

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.

Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Final Report 14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

Marvin M. Levy, Ph.D., was the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative

16. Abstract

This report presents findings from the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, jointly sponsored by the U.S.

Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and

administered by The Gallup Organization. The goals of the survey were to ascertain the scope and magnitude of bicycle and pedestrian activity

and the public’s behavior and attitudes regarding bicycling and walking.

This report, Volume II: Findings Report, provides a detailed analysis of behaviors and attitudes on various topics related to walking and

bicycling including reported frequency of walking and bicycling during the summer months, trip purpose and characteristics, perceptions of safety,

safety practices, facilities available and community design. Volume I: Summary Report presents a top line summary of key data results on these

topics. Volume III: Methods Report describes the methods used to conduct the interviews and analyze the data. It also contains a copy of the

questionnaire. The data come from a survey conducted among a representative sample of 9,616 U.S. residents 16 and older during the Summer of

2002. The survey findings show that slightly less than half (46%) of those 16 and older have regular access to a bicycle, with access increasing with

increases in household income. About 43 percent ride a bicycle at least once in the summer months, making an estimated 2.484 billion trips during the summer of 2002. Bicycling declines with age, with those under 20 most likely to bicycle and doing so more frequently, while the majority over 45 did not bicycle during the summer months. The majority of bicycling trips were for recreation or for exercise, while just one in 5 trips were made to conduct errands (14%) or for commuting to work or school (5%). About half of all trips (48%) were made on paved roads. An additional 13 percent were on shoulders of paved roads, and 5 percent on bike lanes on roads. One in 7 was made on sidewalks (14%) or bike trails/paths (13%). Only half (50%) of bicyclists say bike paths are available in the area they ride, while 32 percent say bike lanes are available. However, over half of those who do not use available bicycle paths or lanes say they don’t use them because they are not convenient, available, or go where they need to go. More than one in 10 bicyclists (13%) felt threatened for their personal safety on the most recent day they rode their bicycle in the past 30 days in the summer of 2002, with 88 percent of these feeling threatened by motorists. One in 5 bicyclists rode in the dark or near-dark for at least part of their trip, with 63 percent of these saying they took actions to make themselves more visible to motorists. About 4 percent of bicyclists or 2.04 million, were injured while riding in the past two years. About .5 million of these were hit by a motorist. Half (50%) of bicyclists wear a helmet for at least some trips, with 35 percent using them for all or most trips. Nine of 10 support helmet laws for children, while 62 percent support such laws for adults. Nearly half (48%) of those 16 and older are satisfied with how their local community is designed for making bicycle riding safer. About as many (47%) would like to see changes including more bike lanes (38%) and bike paths (30%).

About 86 percent of people 16 or older walked, jogged or ran outdoors for 5 minutes or more during the summer months, with 78 percent doing so within the past 30 days. Walking in the past 30 days decreases to just 66 percent for those over 64. An estimated 13.33 billion walking trips were made in the summer months of 2002, with 74 percent of all trips being made by frequent walkers. Personal errands (38%), exercise (28%) and recreation (21%) are the most common reasons for trips. Nearly half (45%) of the trips were mostly made on sidewalks, and 25 percent were mostly on paved roads. Just 6 percent were made mostly on bike or walk paths or trails. About 6 percent of pedestrians felt their personal safety threatened on their most recent trip, with 62 percent saying they felt threatened by motorists. Almost three-quarters of people 16 and older (73%) are satisfied with how their local community is designed for walking, though one-third would like to see changes including more sidewalks (42%) and more lights (17%).

17. Key Words

Attitudes, Survey, Pedestrians, Walking, Bicycling,

Bicyclists, Bicycling Safety

18. Distribution Statement

This document is available to the public through the National Technical

Information Service, Springfield, VA 22160 and free of charge on the

NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages

185

22. Price

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

i

Contents

Introduction 1

Section I: Bicycling Attitudes and Behaviors 5

Chapter 1: Overall Bicycling Behaviors 5

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Bicycling 25

Chapter 3: Bicycle as Mode of Transportation 33

Chapter 4: Bicycling Habits 55

Chapter 5: Bicyclist Satisfaction 87

Section II: Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors 99

Chapter 1: Overall Pedestrian Behaviors 99

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Walking 116

Chapter 3: Walking as Mode of Transportation 124

Chapter 4: Walking Habits 146

Chapter 5: Pedestrian Satisfaction 162

Appendix A 175

iii

List of Figures

Section I: Bicycling Attitudes and Behaviors

Chapter 1: Overall Bicycling Behaviors 1. Access to bicycles……………………………………………….………………………….7 2. Frequency of bicycling………………………………………….……………………. 10-11 3. Days spent bicycling……………………………………………….…………………….. 13 4. Profile of bicyclists….…………………………………………….……………………… 15 5. Change in bicycling behavior……………………………………………….……………. 17 6. Reasons for not bicycling…………………………………………….…………….…….. 19 7. Number of bicycling trips (among those bicycling at least once in past 30 days)………. 21 8. Estimated total number of bicycling trips…………………………….…………………...23

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Bicycling 9. Origin of bicycling trips…………………………………………….……………………. 27 10. Purpose and destination of bicycling trips ……….…...……………….…………………. 29 11. Characteristics of bicycling trips ……………………………………………….…………31

Chapter 3: Bicycle as Mode of Transportation 12. Alternatives to bicycling……………………………………………….………………36-37 13. Personal feelings of safety while bicycling………………………………………….…….39 14. Reasons felt threatened for personal safety……………………….……………………42-43 15. Actions motorists did that were threatening……………………….………………………45 16. Bicycling in the dark……………………………………………….…………………. 48-49 17. Making self visible while bicycling in the dark ……………………….……………... 52-53

Chapter 4: Bicycling Habits 18. Availability and use of bicycle paths/bicycle lanes ……………………….…………. 58-59 19. Reasons for not using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes ……………………….……………….61 20. Riding on streets and sidewalks ……………………………………………………… 64-66 21. Bicycle-related injuries……………………………………………….…...………….. 70-71 22. Helmet laws……………………………………………….………………………….. 74-75 23. Frequency of bicycle helmet usage……………………………………………….…... 78-80 24. Reasons for not wearing a helmet…………………………………………….………. 84-85

Chapter 5: Bicyclist Satisfaction 25. Satisfaction with community………………………………………………….……….89-90 26. Desire for changes in community…………………………………………….…………... 93 27. Opinions on bicycling ……………………………………………….…...……………96-97

v

List of Figures (continued)

Section II: Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors

Chapter 1: Overall Pedestrian Behaviors 28. Frequency of walking ……………………………………………….…...…………101-102 29. Days spent walking ……………………………………………….……………………..104 30. Profile of pedestrians ……………………………………………….………………….. 106 31. Change in pedestrian behavior ……………………………………………….………… 108 32. Reasons for not walking ……………………………………………….……………….. 110 33. Number of walking trips (among those walking at least once in past 30 days) ………... 112 34. Estimated total number of walking trips…………………………………………………114

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Walking 35. Origin of walking trips ……………………………………………….………………… 118 36. Purpose and destination of walking trips ………………………………………………. 120 37. Characteristics of walking trips ……………………………………………….………... 122

Chapter 3: Walking as Mode of Transportation 38. Alternatives to walking ……………………………………………….…………….127-128 39. Personal feelings of safety while walking ……………………………………………….130 40. Reasons felt threatened for personal safety ………………………………………....133-134 41. Actions motorists did that were threatening ………………………………………..……136 42. Walking in the dark ……………………………………………….…………..…….139-140 43. Making self visible while walking in the dark ……………………………………...143-144

Chapter 4: Walking Habits 44. Availability and use of sidewalks …………………………………………………..148-149 45. Reasons for not using sidewalks…………………………………………………………151 46. Walking on streets and sidewalks….………………………………………………. 154-156 47. Walking-related injuries………….………………………………………………… 159-160

Chapter 5: Pedestrian Satisfaction 48. Satisfaction with community……………………………………….……………… 164-165 49. Desire for changes in community…….……………………………………………. 167-168 50. Opinions on walking ………….…………………………………………………… 172-173

vi

Introduction Background and Objectives

This report presents findings from the National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and administered by The Gallup Organization. The goals of the survey were to ascertain the scope and magnitude of bicycle and pedestrian activity and the public’s behavior and attitudes regarding bicycling and walking. This national survey is the first of its kind designed specifically to benchmark bicycle and pedestrian trips, behaviors, and attitudes. The survey findings will serve as a foundation to improve the environment and infrastructure to support these two transportation modes.

The survey asked questions for both bicyclists and pedestrians on the following topics:

• Frequency of bicycling and walking, • Trip information including: origin, destination, trip time, trip distance, type of area

where trip began/ended, trip purpose, facility use, and topography, • Reasons for not biking and/or walking, • Perceptions of safety, • Safety practices, • Facilities availability, • Community design, • Opinions of biking/walking as a form of transportation, and • Sociodemographics.

Survey respondents were interviewed between June 11 and August 20, 2002, and were asked to provide information about their overall bicycling and walking behaviors during the past 30 days, which encompassed the period of May 11 through August 20, 2002. The survey focused on individual trips taken on the most recent day they bicycled or walked during that period. Specific trip data (including trip origin and destination, purpose, time, distance, etc.) were collected for up to six walking and six bicycling trips on the most recent day traveled. These data cannot be used to project year-round bicycling and walking behaviors, but offer a solid reflection of biking and walking activity in the summer months.

1

Methods

A more detailed methods description can be found in Volume III: Methods Report, which was prepared under separate cover.

Telephone interviews were conducted with a nationally representative sample of 9,616 respondents 16 or older in the United States between June 11 and August 20, 2002. These results were then weighted to reflect the national population of 208 million non-institutionalized people 16 years or older residing in the United States. Weighting is a statistical method that is used for the information supplied by a sample of people to be extrapolated to the entire population.

Sample surveys contain two major components of error: sampling and nonsampling error.

Sampling Error. Sampling error occurs because findings are based on a sample, rather than on the entire population. The total respondent pool was 9,616, for an estimated sampling error of about +/- 1.0 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence. Sampling error will be larger for sample subgroups (such as males or people 65+) and for survey items that do not apply to all members of the sample (e.g., sample members who rode bicycles during the 30 days prior to the survey).

Nonsampling Error. Estimates are subject to various errors during the survey process, such as data collection, response coding, and data editing errors. These errors would also occur if a complete census was conducted under the same conditions as the sample survey. Explicit measures of the effects of these errors are not available. However, stringent quality control procedures were followed during data entry, and the questionnaire was reviewed and pretested in an effort to minimize nonsampling errors associated with data entry and questionnaire design. Nonresponse error is a function of both the response rate (27% CASRO) and the differences, if any, between respondents and nonrespondents.

2

Data Presented

The findings of this study are presented in two parts. The first section examines the results regarding bicycling attitudes and behaviors. The second section examines results regarding pedestrian attitudes and behaviors.

For purposes of this study, the following definitions are used throughout the report.

Bicyclists: People who reported riding bicycles at least once in the past 30 days during the summer of 2002.

Pedestrians: People who reported walking, running, or jogging outdoors for at least five minutes at least once in the previous 30-day period.

Trip: A trip is defined as going from a starting point to a destination for a specific purpose without any stops along the way. If you left your house to go on a bike ride with no real destination and returned to your house, that would be considered ONE trip. If you rode from your house to a friend's house for a visit, then rode back home, that would be TWO trips. If you rode from your home to a friend’s house, then to a store, and then back home again, that would count as THREE trips.

Summer: Summer months are May through August.

Geographical Areas: The respondents’ geographical area of residence and travel was categorized into 1 of 3 urbanicity areas based on U.S. Census Bureau classifications: suburban, urban, and rural

NHTSA Regions: NHTSA has 10 regional offices that work on the agency’s mission. The States that make up each region are:

Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

3

This page has been left blank intentionally.

4

I. Bicycling Attitudes and Behaviors

Chapter 1: Overall Bicycling Behaviors

This section provides information on the bicycling behaviors of people 16 and older. Specifically it covers the following topics:

• Access to bicycles, • Frequency of bicycling, • Days spent bicycling, • Profile of bicyclists, • Change in bicycling behavior, • Reasons for not bicycling, • Number of bicycling trips (among those bicycling at least once in past 30 days), and • Estimated total number of bicycling trips.

5

Access to Bicycles

Percent with access to a bicycle, by total and NHTSA Region

Overall, nearly half of people 16 or older (46%) had bicycles available for their use on a regular basis. Across the NHTSA Regions, those living in NHTSA Regions 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) (56%) and 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (58%) were more likely to have access to bicycles than were those living in other regions of the country. Those in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (40%) were least likely to have access to bicycles. [Figure 1-A]

Percent with access to a bicycle, by gender and age

Males (51%) were more likely than females (42%) to have access to bicycles. Those 16 to 20 (62%) reported the greatest access to a bicycle, while just 23 percent of those 65 or older reported access to bicycles. [Figure 1-B]

Percent with access to a bicycle, by household income

As household income rises, so too does access to a bicycle. Those with household incomes under $15,000 were less likely to have access to bicycles (29%) than those in the middle income range of $30,000 to $49,000 (47%) and those in the upper income range of $75,000 or more (65%). [Figure 1-C]

6

FIGURE 1: ACCESS TO BICYCLES

46% 51%

44% 43% 41%

56%

40%

51% 58%

43%

52%

TOTAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

PERCENT WITH ACCESS TO A BICYCLE, BY NHTSA REGION

A

NHTSA Region

0

51% 42%

62%

45%

55%

44%

23%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

PERCENT WITH ACCESS TO A BICYCLE, BY GENDER AND AGE

B

GENDER AGE

Q1: Do you have a bicycle available for your use on a regular basis? Q1: Do you have a bicycle available for your use on a regular basis?

29% 34% 47%

55% 65%

<$15K %15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

C PERCENT WITH ACCESS TO A BICYCLE, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

NHTSA Region Q1: Do you have a bicycle available for your use on a regular basis?

Sample bases for this page:

Total population Total

9616 Male

3936 Female

5680 16-20

724 21-29

1309 30-45

3132 46-64

2914 65+

1479

Total population 1

507 2

843 3

1027

NHTSA Region

4 51754 1681

6 1149

7498

8358

91316

10 483

7

Frequency of Bicycling

Frequency of bicycling in summer months

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) people 16 or older reported that they never use bicycles during the summer months (18% of these nonusers have access to bicycles, and 82% do not). About 1 in 7 (13%) said they use bicycles less than once a month, but at least once during the summer months. An additional 11 percent reported using a bicycle at least once a month, but not weekly. About 1 in 5 (19%) reported using a bicycle at least once a week. [Figure 2-A]

Frequency of bicycling in summer months, by gender

Males 16 or older (24%) were nearly twice as likely as females (13%) to say they ride their bicycles at least once a week in the summer months. More than 6 in 10 (64%) females said they never ride a bicycle, compared to half of males (49%). [Figure 2-B]

Frequency of bicycling in summer months, by age

Propensity to bicycle at least once a week tended to decline with age, with 27 percent of those 16 to 20 saying they ride at least weekly, compared to 15 percent of 46- to 64-year-olds, and just 6 percent of those 65 or older. Similarly, the likelihood of reporting never riding a bicycle generally increased with age, with 85 percent of those 65 or older never bicycling, compared to 37 percent of those under 21 who never ride. [Figure 2-C]

Frequency of bicycling in summer months, by race/ethnicity

Propensity to bicycle at least once a week was higher among Hispanic people (25%) than among White non-Hispanic (19%), Black non-Hispanic (15%) and Asian (9%) people. Black non-Hispanic people 16 and older (63%) were most likely to say they never used bicycles during the summer months. [Figure 2-D]

8

Frequency of Bicycling (Continued)

Frequency of bicycling in summer months, by NHTSA Region

Regions vary considerably in the proportion of people bicycling at least once a week in the summer months ranging from a high of 24 percent in NHTSA Regions 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) to a low of 14 percent in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). People in NHTSA Regions 4 and 6 were the most likely to say they never ride bicycles in the summer months (63% and 62%, respectively). [Figure 2-E]

9

FIGURE 2: FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING

A

19% 11% 13%

57%

At least once a w eek

At least once a month, but not

w eekly

Less than once a month, but at

least once during the summer

Never

FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING IN SUMMER MONTHS

B FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY GENDER Male 64%

24%

13% 14%

49%

13% 10% 13%

Female

At least once a Once a month, Less than once Never week but not weekly a month

Q2: On average, during the summer months, how often do you use a bicycle? [Base: Total Population]

Q2: On average, during the summer months, how often do you use a bicycle? [Base: Total population]

37%

19% 17%

27%

51%

15%12%

22% 15%

47%

15%

23%

64%

12%9% 15%

85%

4%3%6%


Once a month, but not w eekly

Less than once a month

Never

FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY AGE

16-20 21-29

C

30-45

46-64 65+


D

19% 11% 14%

56%

15% 10% 11%

63%

25%

10%

56%

9%9% 19% 13%

59%

21% 13% 13%

53%


Once a month, but not w eekly

Less than once a month

Never

FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic

Asian Other Non-Specified


10

FIGURE 2: FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING (continued)

7

12% 13% 14% 17% 12% 15%

54%

15% 19%

10%

20%

58%

12% 11%

60%

12% 17%

63%

12% 10% 14%

50%

24%

12% 11% 14%

62% 56%

18% 15% 21%

46%

13%10%

21%

57%

13% 16% 24%

46%

At least once a week Once a month, but not weekly Less than once a month Never

FREQUENCY OF BICYCLING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY NHTSA REGION E 1 2 3

4 5 6

8 9

10



Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Total Population 9616 3936 5680 724 1309 3132 2914 1479

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Population 507 843 1027 1754 1681 1149 498 358 1316 483

Other White Non- Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Asian Non-Specified

Total Population 7602 762 523 207 352

11

Days Spent Bicycling

Average number of days in past month rode a bicycle, by total, gender, and age

People 16 and older who bicycled at all in the summer months rode a bicycle an average of 5.0 days in the past 30 days. Males rode an average of 5.8 days, compared to 3.9 days for females. Those 16 to 20 rode a bicycle more often (6.1 days) in the past 30 days than did those 30 or older (4.7 days on average). [Figure 3-A]

Average number of days in past month rode a bicycle, by NHTSA Region

Those who rode a bicycle at least once in the summer months and live in NHTSA Regions 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) (5.6 days) and 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (5.5 days) reported a higher average number of days riding a bicycle in the past 30 days than did those living in other regions of the country. Those living in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) (4.0) averaged riding the fewest number of days. [Figure 3-B]

Bicycling frequency, based on days per month bicycled

The frequency with which one rode a bicycle in the summer can be divided into heavy riding (20 or more days per month), medium riding (8 to 19 days per month) and light riding (1 to 7 days per month). More than 6 in 10 bicyclists were light-frequency bicyclists (64%), 22 percent were medium-frequency bicyclists, and 14 percent were heavy-frequency bicyclists during the preceding 30 days. [Figure 3-C]

12

FIGURE 3: DAYS SPENT BICYCLING

AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS IN PAST MONTH A RODE A BICYCLE, BY GENDER AND AGE

6.15.8 5.0

3.9

5.3 4.7 4.7 4.5

TOTAL Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

GENDER AGE

4.8

B AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS IN PAST MONTH RODE A BICYCLE, BY NHTSA REGION

5.6 5.5 5.2 4.9 4.8 4.0

4.5 4.4 4.5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region

Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total who bicycle in the summer] you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total who bicycle in the summer]

C BICYCLING FREQUENCY, BASED ON DAYS PER MONTH BICYCLED

64%

22% 14%

Light (1-7 days) Medium (8-19 days) Heavy (20-31 days) (n=1,670) (n=553) (n=325)

Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total who bicycle in the summer]


Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Total who bicycle in 4028 1979 2049 435 628 1684 1053 214

the summer NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total who bicycle in 223 349 391 642 824 405 212 183 554 245

the summer

13

Profile of Bicyclists

Those who rode bicycle at least once in past 30 days, by age and gender

For the remainder of this report, bicyclists are defined as those who bicycled at least once in the past 30 days. About one quarter of people 16 and older (27%) reported bicycling at least once in the previous 30 days. Males (34%) were more likely to be bicyclists than females (21%), and younger riders 16 to 20 (42%) were more likely to bicycle than those of an older age group. [Figure 4-A]

Those who rode bicycle at least once in past 30 days, by race/ethnicity

Black non-Hispanic (22%) and Asian (24%) people were least likely to report bicycling at least once during the past 30 days in the summer months. Those of Hispanic (31%), White non-Hispanic (28%) and Other (30%) descent were most likely to report bicycling. [Figure 4-B]

Those who rode bicycle at least once in past 30 days, by NHTSA Region

Those residing in NHTSA Regions 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) (33%), 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (32%) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (32%) were most likely to bicycle at least once in the past 30 days. Those in NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (22%) and NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (22%) were the least likely to be bicyclists. [Figure 4-C]

14

FIGURE 4: PROFILE OF BICYCLISTS

A THOSE WHO RODE BICYCLE AT LEAST ONCE PAST THIRTY DAYS, BY GENDER AND AGE

42% 34% 34% 32%

27% 22% 21%

8%

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

GENDER AGE

B THOSE WHO RODE BICYCLE AT LEAST ONCE PAST THIRTY DAYS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

31% 30%28%24%22%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other Non-Hispanic Hispanic specif ic

Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total population] you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total population]

C THOSE WHO RODE BICYCLE AT LEAST ONCE PAST THIRTY DAYS, BY NHTSA REGION

33% 32% 32% 28% 28% 28% 28%

26%

22% 22%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region

Q2c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you ride a bicycle? [Base: Total population]


Total MaleTotal Population 9616 3936

Female5680

16-20724

21-29 1309

30-453132

46-642914

65+ 1479

White Non-Hispanic

7602

Black Non-Hispanic

762 Hispanic

523 Asian 207

Other Non-specified

352

Total Population 1

507 2

843 3

1027 4

1754

NHTSA Region

5 61681 1149

7498

8 358

91316

10 483

15

Change in Bicycling Behavior

Change in bicycling behavior over past year, by total, gender and age

Nearly half of bicyclists (defined as those riding a bicycle at least once in the past 30 days) reported no change in their bicycling behavior compared to about a year ago (46%). However, equal numbers reported bicycling more often (27%) as reported bicycling less often (27%). Male bicyclists (26%) were almost as likely as female bicyclists (28%) to report bicycling more often than a year ago. Bicyclists 21 to 29 (41%) were more likely to report an increase in bicycling behavior than were other age groups. Bicyclists 16 to 20 (44%) were more likely to report a decrease in bicycling behavior than were other age groups. [Figure 5-A]

Change in bicycling behavior over past year, by NHTSA Region

Increases in bicycling behavior over the past year varied little by NHTSA Region, ranging from 23 percent reporting an increase in NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MI, NC, SC, TN) to 31 percent reporting an increase in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). Bicyclists in NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (53%) were most likely of those in any region to report no change in bicycling behavior from about a year ago. [Figure 5-B]

Change in bicycling behavior over past year, by urbanicity

Bicyclists living in urban, suburban, and rural areas did not differ appreciably in reported change in bicycling behavior from about a year ago. [Figure 5-C]

Change in bicycling behavior over past year, by bicycling frequency

Nearly 4 in 10 heavy- (38%) and medium-frequency (38%) bicyclists reported an increase in their bicycling behavior over the past year. Light-frequency bicyclists (20%) were less likely to report an increase. [Figure 5-D]

16

FIGURE 5: CHANGE IN BICYCLING BEHAVIOR

GENDER AGE

16% 21%

28%

41%

21% 28% 26% 27%

58% 57%

34%

48%

34%

44% 47% 46%

24% 21% 26% 25%

44%

28% 27%

27%


More often Same amount Less often

CHANGE IN BICYCLING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY GENDER AND AGE

A

31% 28% 29% 30% 26% 30%

25% 23% 25% 25%

47% 45% 49% 53%

41% 42% 47%

43% 49%

43%

25% 25% 21% 26% 29% 27% 27% 28%

31% 27%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


CHANGE IN BICYCLING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY NHTSA REGION

B

NHTSA Region Q41: Compared to about a year ago, would you say you are now riding a bike more often, less often or about the same amount? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

Q41: Compared to about a year ago, would you say you are now riding a bike more often, less often or about the same amount? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

C CHANGE IN BICYCLING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY URBANICITY


47% 47% 43%

26% 28%27% 26% 28%27%

Urban Rural Suburban


51%

Heavy Medium Light


CHANGE IN BICYCLING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

D

38%

20%

38% 45%45%

15%

34%

11%



Rode bicycle past 30 days Total2525

Male1325

Female1200

16-20290

21-29398

30-451079

46-64626

65+121

Urban1293

Rural515

Suburban 717

NHTSA Region

Rode bicycle past 30 days 1

143 2

224 3

241 4

383 5

556 6 242

7 140

8112

9342

10 142

Rode bicycle past 30 days Heavy

324 Medium

549 Light

1642

17

Reasons for Not Bicycling

Reasons for not bicycling in the summer or for not riding a bicycle more recently

Nearly three-fourths of those 16 or older (72%) never rode a bicycle or had not done so in the past 30 days in the summer of 2002. This represents approximately 151 million people who did not bicycle. The top reason given for not bicycling is lack of access to a bicycle (28%). Nearly as many (25%) reported their primary reason for not bicycling as lack of need or desire to ride a bicycle. Fewer reported a physical difficulty (11%) or weather conditions (10%) as the primary reason for not bicycling. [Figure 6-A]

Top reasons for not bicycling, by gender, age

While males and females were equally likely to cite lack of access to a bicycle as a reason for not bicycling (28% each), males (30%) were more likely than females (21%) to cite lack of need or desire to bicycle. Those 21 to 29 were more likely to cite lack of access to a bicycle as their top reason than were other age groups. Those over 64 most often cited physical difficulty (21%) and lack of access to a bicycle (22%) as their main reasons for not bicycling. [Figure 6-B]

Top reasons for not bicycling, by NHTSA Region

While nonbicyclists overall were nearly equally likely to cite lack of access to a bicycle (28%) as lack of need/desire to bicycle (25%), this varied by region. Nonbicyclists in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) were much more likely to cite lack of need or desire to bicycle (32%) than they were a lack of access (23%). NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MR, ND, SD, UT, WY) nonbicyclists also cited lack of need/desire (29%) more frequently than lack of access (24%). In contrast, lack of access was the more predominant reason in most of the other regions, particularly in NHTSA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV), NHTSA Region 2 (NJ, NY), and NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN). Nonbicyclists citing weather conditions ranged from a high of 14 percent in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX), to a low of 4 percent in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA). [Figure 6-C]

18

FIGURE 6: REASONS FOR NOT BICYCLING

A REASONS FOR NOT BICYCLING IN THE SUMMER OR FOR NOT RIDING A BICYCLE MORE RECENTLY

28% 25%

11% 10% 7%5% 4% 4% 3%

No Don't Phys. Weather Prefer Unspec. Safety Other Don'taccess need/ difficult cond. o ther reason reasons form of knowto bicycle want to transp. exercise how

22% 28%

37%

26% 27% 30% 28%

21%

30% 26%

31% 28% 28%

11%8%

2% 4% 7%

14% 21%

13% 9% 11% 11% 11% 12%11% 6%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

B TOP REASONS FOR NOT BICYCLING, BY GENDER AND AGE

No access to bicycle Don’t need to/want to Weather

conditions

Physical difficulty

GENDER AGE Q2e: What is the primary reason you never ride a bike in the summer/have Q2e: What is the primary reason you never ride a bike in the not ridden a bike more recently? [Base: Never bicycle in summer months or summer/have not ridden a bike more recently? [Base: Never bicycle in have not bicycled in past 30 days] summer months or have not bicycled in past 30 days]

C TOP REASONS FOR NOT BICYCLING, BY NHTSA REGION No access to bicycle Weather conditions Don’t need to/want to Physical difficulty 32% 31% 30% 29% 29% 29% 28% 28% 28% 28% 27% 27% 25% 25% 24% 23% 24% 25% 23%

21%

14% 13% 13% 12% 13% 12% 10% 11% 11% 10% 11% 9% 10% 10% 9% 10% 8% 6%6% 4%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region

Q2e: What is the primary reason you never ride a bike in the summer/have not ridden a bike more recently? [Base: Never bicycle in summer months or have not bicycled in past 30 days]

Sample bases for this page: Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Never bicycle in summer months or have not bicycled in 7015 2576 4439 430 902 2028 2261 1348past 30 days

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Never bicycle in summer months or have not bicycled in past 30 days 360 613 775 1348 1115 900 358 244 970 332

19

Estimated Number of Bicycling Trips (Among Those Bicycling at Least Once in Past 30 Days)

Percent taking 1, 2, 3, 4, or more trips

An estimated 2.484 billion bicycling trips were made during the summer of 2002 (May 11 and August 20). Over half of bicyclists took just one trip (58%) on the most recent day they rode, 31 percent took two trips, and the remainder took three or more trips (11%). This translates to an average of 1.6 trips per bicyclist per day bicycled. Trips were defined as going from a starting point to a destination for a specific purpose without any stops along the way. [Figure 7-A]

Average number of trips, by gender and age

Male bicyclists took an average of 1.7 trips on the most recent day they rode, compared to 1.5 trips for female bicyclists. The average number of bicycling trips declined with age from a high of 2.0 trips per day among bicyclists under 21 to 1.4 trips per day among bicyclists 46 or older. [Figure 7-B]

Average number of trips, by NHTSA Region

The average number of bicycle trips on the most recent day of riding varied by region. The number of trips cited ranged from 1.9 in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA), to 1.5 trips per day in NHTSA Regions 1 and 3 (Northeast and Eastern Seaboard). [Figure 7-C]

Average number of trips

Heavy-frequency bicyclists (defined as those bicycling 20 or more days in a 30-day period) took an average of 2.1 trips on the most recent day they rode, compared to 1.7 trips per day for medium-frequency bicyclists (those bicycling 8 to 19 days in a 30-day period) and 1.5 trips for light-frequency bicyclists (those bicycling 7 or fewer days). [Figure 7-D]

20

FIGURE 7: NUMBER OF BICYCLING TRIPS (AMONG THOSE BICYCLING AT LEAST ONCE IN PAST 30 DAYS)

A PERCENT TAKING 1, 2, 3, 4 OR MORE TRIPS

58%

31%

6% 5%

1 Trip 2 Trips 3 Trips 4 or more trips

B AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BY GENDER AND AGE

2.0

1.7 1.7 1.6 1.61.5 1.4 1.4


GENDER AGE

Q5: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you rode your Q5: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you rode your bicycle? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days] bicycle? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BY NHTSA REGION

1.7 1.7 1.7 1.9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

C

NHTSA Region

1.5 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

Q5: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you rode your bicycle? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]



Rode bi cycle past 30 days Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-452525 1325 1200 290 398 1079

46-64 626 65+ Heavy

121 324 Medium

549 Light 1642

NHTSA Regi on

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rode bicycle past 30 days 143 224 241 383 556 242 140 112 342 142

2.1 1.7 1.5

Heavy Medium Light

D AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, (NOT PROJECTED)

0

21

Estimated Total Number of Bicycling Trips

Estimated projected total number of bicycling trips typical summer months, by total, gender and age

During the summer months of 2002, a projected 2.484 billion bicycling trips were made by people 16 and older. This reflects an estimated 1.686 billion trips made by male bicyclists and .799 billion trips made by female bicyclists. Bicyclists 30 to 45 made .846 billion bicycling trips, compared to .643 billion trips made by those 16 to 20 and .086 billion trips made by those 65 or older. [Figure 8-A]

Estimated projected total number of bicycling trips, by NHTSA Region

Bicyclists in NHTSA Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) made more trips (.521 billion) than those living in other regions of the country. Fewer than 100 million trips were made by bicyclists living in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) (.096 billion), and NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (.087 billion). [Figure 8-B]

Proportion of bicycling trips taken by bicycling frequency

Heavy-frequency bicyclists made one-half (50%) of all bicycling trips taken over the summer of 2002, though they make up 14% of bicyclists. In contrast, light-frequency bicyclists represent 64 percent represent of the bicycling population, but made just 19% of all trips. [Figure 8-C]

22

FIGURE 8: ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF BICYCLING TRIPS

GENDER AGE

0.634 0.460

0.846

0.453

0.086

2.484

1.686

0.799

TOTAL M ale Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

A PROJECTED TOTAL NUMBER OF BICYCLING TRIPS, BY TOTAL GENDER AND AGE (IN BILLIONS)

B PROJECTED TOTAL NUMBER OF BICYCLING TRIPS, BY NHTSA REGION (IN BILLIONS)

0.521

0.430 0.349

0.266 0.224 0.226

0.182 0.096 0.105 0.087

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region



C PROPORTION OF TRIPS TAKEN, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

50%

31%

19%

Heavy Medium Light



Rode bicycle in past 30 days

Total2525

Male1325

Female1200

16-20290

21-29398

30-451079

46-64626

65+ 121

Heavy 324

Medium 549

Light 1642

NHTSA Region

Rode bicycle in past 30 days

1143

2 224

3241

4383

5556

6242

7140

8112

9342

10 142

23


24

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Bicycling

This section provides information about specific trip data on the most recent day a bicycle was used. Specific trip data were collected for up to six trips (including origin and destination information, purpose, time, distance, etc.) on the most recent day traveled. These data cannot be used to project year-round bicycling behaviors but offer a solid reflection of bicycling trips taken during the summer of 2002.

Specifically this chapter covers the following topics:

• Origin of bicycling trips, • Purpose and destination of bicycling trips, and • Characteristics of bicycling trips.

25

Origin of Bicycling Trips

Starting point of the day’s first trip

Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) trips began at a residence belonging either to the bicyclist or someone else. An additional 7 percent of trips began at a leisure or recreational site such as a park. Just 1 percent began at work, and 3 percent began in some other location. [Figure 9-A]

Type of area where first trip began

Those who did not begin their day’s trips at home were asked to describe the area within one-quarter mile of where the day’s trips began. Over half of these trips began in a recreational area (55%), an additional 27 percent of trips began in a residential area. [Figure 9-B]

Ranges of time first trip began

The time of day at which the first trip began spanned across all hours of the day. Roughly 4 in 10 trips (39%) began in the morning hours between 12:01 a.m. and noon, 36 percent began in the afternoon hours between noon and 5:59 p.m., and 20 percent began in the evening hours of 6 p.m. through midnight. [Figure 9-C]

26

FIGURE 9: ORIGIN OF BICYCLING TRIPS

A STARTINGPOINT OFTHE DAY'S FIRST TRIP

89%

7% 3%

Own/Othrs home Leisure/rec. site Work Other

1%

55%

27%

9% 3% 2% 1% 1% 1%

B TYPE OF AREA WHERE FIRST TRIP BEGAN

Recreat. Resident. Comm. Public Bldgs.

Agricult. Indust. Other DK/Ref

Q6: Thinking of this last day that you rode your bicycle, what was your starting point for this trip? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days; n=2,525]

Q8: Was the area within ¼ mile of where you started your trip…? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days beginning first trip somewhere other than own home; n=331]

C RANGES OF TIME FIRST TRIP BEGAN

39% 36%

20%

Before noon 12:00 p.m. - 5:59 p.m. 6:00 p.m. or later

Q7: What time did you begin this/your first trip of the day? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days; n=2,525]

27

Purpose and Destination of Bicycling Trips

Note the data presented in this section are based on the total trips taken on the most recent day bicycled.

Purpose of trips

Bicyclists reported a variety of reasons as the primary purposes for the bicycling trips they took. The most common purposes of trips were for recreation or leisure (29%) and for exercise or health reasons (24%). Additional primary trip purposes included running personal errands (14%), going home (14%), and visiting a friend or relative (10%). Just 5 percent said they used their bicycles for commuting to work or school. [Figure 10-A]

Ending points of trips

The most common ending point of a bicycle trip was home (69%). An additional 11 percent ended at a leisure or recreation site, 9 percent ended at a shopping site and 4 percent ended at work. [Figure 10-B]

Type of area where trips ended

Trips that did not end at the bicyclist’s home tended to end in residential areas (39%), but 1 in 4 (26%) also ended in recreational areas. An additional 1 in 5 (19%) ended in commercial areas. [Figure 10-C]


Trips ended in mostly urban or suburban areas (47%), with an additional 25 percent ending in a rural town or farm area, or a downtown city area (22%). [Figure 10-D]

28

FIGURE 10: PURPOSE AND DESTINATION OF BICYCLING TRIPS

29% 24%

14% 14% 10%

5% 2% 1%

PURPOSE OF TRIPS A

Rec./ leisure

Exercise/ for health

Personal errands (store)

Go home

Required for job

Visit friend/rel.

Other Comm. to work/

school

11% 4% 8%

69%

9%

Own/others home

Leis./rec. site (park/etc.)

Shopping site

Work Other

ENDING POINTS OF THE TRIPS B

Q9,a 25a: What was the main purpose of this trip? [Base: Data for all trips; Q10,26: Where did this trip end? [Base: Data for all trips; n=3,903] n=3,903]

39%

26%

19%

8% 3% 2% 1%

C TYPE OF AREA WHERE TRIPS ENDED

Recreat. Resident. Comm. Public Bldgs.

Agricult. Indust. Other DK/Ref

47%

25% 22%

1% 3% 2%

D TYPE OF AREA WHERE TRIPS ENDED

Urban/sub. area

Rural town/ farm

Downtown/ city area

Wilderness/ ctry/forest

Unspec. DK/Ref

Q12,28: Was the area within ¼ mile of where you ended this trip? Q13,29: Was the area within ¼ mile of where you ended this trip? [Base: Data for all trips that did not end at home; n=1,624] [Base: Data for all trips that did not end at home; n=1,624]

29

Characteristics of Bicycling Trips

Trip lengths on most recent day bicycled

The average bicycle trip taken on the most recent day of bicycling was 3.9 miles. Nearly 4 in 10 trips (39%) were reported to be 1 mile or less. Just 1 in 5 trips (19%) was reported to be more than 5 miles. [Figure 11-A]

Type of roads bicycled on

Nearly half (48%) of bicyclists’ trips were ridden mainly on paved roads, not on shoulders (48%). Other facilities used for bicycling trips included sidewalks (14%), bicycle paths, walking paths or trails (13%), shoulders of paved roads (13%), unpaved roads (5%), and bicycle lanes on roads (5%). [Figure 11-B]

Inclination of roads bicycled on

Bicycle trips were taken primarily on flat surfaces (48%). An additional 35 percent of trips were on flat surfaces with a hill or two, and 16 percent of trips were on mostly hilly surfaces. [Figure 11-C]

Number of people on trips

Six in 10 (60%) bicycling trips were taken alone. Slightly more than 2 in 10 (22%) bicycling trips were taken with one other person. Almost 2 in 10 (18%) were taken with two or more other people. [Figure 11-D]

30

FIGURE 11: CHARACTERISTICS OF BICYCLING TRIPS

A TRIP LENGTHS ON MOST RECENT DAY BICYCLED

Mean 3.9 miles 39%

19% 24%

12% 7%

1 mile or less 1.1 - 2 miles 2.1 - 5 miles 5.1 - 10 miles More than 10 miles

B

48%

14% 13% 5% 5% 1%

13%

Pav ed roads, not

on shoulder

Sidewalks Bike paths, walking paths or

trails

Shoulders of pav ed

roads

Unpav ed roads

Bike lanes on roads

Mixed f acilities

TYPE OF ROADS BICYCLED ON

Q14, 30: How far did you bicycle on this trip? [Base: Data for all trips; Q16,32: Did you ride mostly on…? [Base: Data for all trips; n=3,903] n=3,903]

48%

35%

16%

Flat Flat w ith a hill or tw o Mostly hills

C INCLINATION OF ROADS BICYCLED ON

22%

9% 9%

60%

Traveled alone One person Tw o people Three or more people

D NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON TRIPS

Q17,33: On this trip, did you ride on a surface that was mainly…? [Base: Q18,34: How many other people were with you on this trip? [Base: Data Data for all trips; n=3,903] for all trips; n=3,903]

31


32

Chapter 3: Bicycle as Mode of Transportation

This section provides data on the bicycle as a mode of transportation. Specifically, it covers topics including:

• Alternatives to bicycling, • Personal feelings of safety while bicycling, • Reasons feel threatened for personal safety, • Actions motorist did that were threatening, • Bicycling in the dark, and • Making self visible while bicycling in the dark.

33

Alternatives to Bicycling

Availability of other modes of transportation, by total, gender and age

The bicycle was a preferred mode of transportation even when other modes of transportation were available. Among those who reported bicycling trips that were not just for recreational purposes, nearly 9 in 10 (86%) reported that other types of transportation were available to them that day that they could have used instead of their bicycles. Males and females were equally likely to have alternative transportation available. The availability of alternative transportation increased linearly with age, with 95 percent of bicyclists over 64 having an alternative available on that day, compared to 79 percent of those 16 to 20. [Figure 12-A]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by race/ethnicity

White non-Hispanic bicyclists (89%) who were bicycling for nonrecreation purposes were more likely than Black non-Hispanic (75%) and Hispanic bicyclists (79%) to have another transportation mode available to them on the most recent day they bicycled. [Figure 12-B]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by household income

When bicycling for nonrecreational purposes, only the availability of alternate modes of transportation increased with increases in income. Ninety-one percent of those with household incomes $75,000 or more had an alternative, compared to 73 percent of those earning under $15,000 per year. [Figure 12-C]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by bicycling frequency

Light-frequency bicyclists (88%) were more likely to have other types of transportation available to them on the most recent day they rode their bicycle for nonrecreation purposes than did those riding more frequently (83%). [Figure 12-D]

34

Alternatives to Bicycling (Continued)

Use of bicycle instead of alternative modes

Among those who had an alternative type of transportation available to them, the main reason they chose to use a bicycle was for the exercise (41%). Other reasons provided were because they enjoy biking or good weather (21%), bicycling is convenient (12%), or for recreation (10%). [Figure 12-E]

Use of bicycle instead of alternative modes, by purpose of trip

When the purpose of the trip was commuting, the bicycle most often was selected over alternative modes of transportation for the exercise (31%) or convenience (24%). In contrast, those who used a bicycle for personal errands, were much less likely to cite the bicycle as a convenience (12%) than they were to say they used it for the exercise (42%). [Figure 12-F]

35

FIGURE 12: ALTERNATIVES TO BICYCLING

A AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY GENDER AND AGE

95%91% 86% 86% 86% 88% 84%79%

TOTAL Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ GENDER AGE

B AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

89% 85%79% 75%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Other non-Hispanic Hispanic specif ied

Q36: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that Q36: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that you could have used instead of your bicycle? [Base: People who made you could have used instead of your bicycle? [Base: People who made trips other than just for recreation] trips other than just for recreation]

AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

73% 83% 89% 89% 91%

<$15K %15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

C

Household Income

83% 83% 88%

Heavy Medium Light

D AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

Q36: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that Q36: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that you could have used instead of your bicycle? [Base: People who made you could have used instead of your bicycle? [Base: People who made trips other than just for recreation] trips other than just for recreation]

36

FIGURE 12: ALTERNATIVES TO BICYCLING (continued)

21%

12% 10% 5% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 3%

For the exercise Enjoy Bicycling is For recreation Bicycle is Went with Other trans. Not Better for environ. No parking Testing repairs Other bicycling/good convenient cheaper someone available

weather else/family

E USE OF BICYCLE INSTEAD OF ALTERNATIVE MODES 41%

Q37: What is the main reason that you chose to ride a bicycle instead of some other form of transportation that day? [Base: Alternate form of transportation available for non-recreational trips; n=944]

F USE OF BICYCLE INSTEAD OF ALTERNATIVE MODES, For the exercise For recreation BY PURPOSE OF TRIP

Enjoy bicycling/good weather Bicycle is cheaper 45% 41% 42% Bicycling is convenient

31% 32%

24% 22% 21% 21% 22% 20% 17% 15% 12% 12% 12% 10% 10% 10% 9%

6%5% 4%5% 2%

Total Any Commuting Any Recreation/Exercise Any Personal Errands Any Other Purpose

Q37: What is the main reason that you chose to ride a bicycle instead of some other form of transportation that day? [Base: Alternate form of transportation available for non-recreational trips]


White Non- Black Non-

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Hispanic Hispanic Made trips other than just for recreation 1062 589 473 190 192 412 223 41 808 83

Household Income Other Non- $15K- $30K- $50K-

Hispanic Asian specified <$15K $29K $49K $74K $75K+ Heavy Medium Light Made trips other than just for recreation 87 -- 52 121 147 247 191 250 193 232 632

Any Any Total Commuting Recreation/Exercise Any Personal Errands Any Other Purpose

Alternate form of transportation 944 130 397 721 46 available for non-recreational trips

37

Personal Feelings of Safety While Bicycling

Percent felt threatened for personal safety, by total, gender, age

More than 1 in 10 bicyclists (13%) felt threatened for their personal safety on the most recent day they rode their bicycles in the previous 30 days in the summer of 2002. Males and females were about equally likely to have felt threatened. [Figure 13-A]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by urbanicity

Bicyclists in suburban areas were more likely to feel threatened (17%) than those living in urban (13%) or rural (9%) areas. [Figure 13-B]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by NHTSA Region

The proportion of bicyclists feeling threatened for their personal safety while bicycling ranged from 9 percent in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) to 16 percent in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA). [Figure 13-C]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by race/ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic bicyclists (12%) were less likely than Black non-Hispanic bicyclists (18%), Hispanic bicyclists (19%), Asian bicyclists (21%), and bicyclists of other races (21%) to feel threatened for their personal safety while bicycling. [Figure 13-D]

38

FIGURE 13: PERSONAL FEELINGS OF SAFETY WHILE BICYCLING

A PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY GENDER AND AGE

16% 14% 14%

13% 13% 13% 11%

10%


GENDER AGE

Q38: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety at any time when you rode your bicycle that day? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

B PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY URBANICITY

17%

13%

9%

Suburban Urban Rural


C PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY NHTSA REGION

16% 16% 16%

13% 13% 13% 13% 11% 11%

9%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1NHTSA Region

0


D PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

21% 21% 19% 18%

12%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other non-Hispanic Hispanic specified



Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Suburban Urban Rural Rode bicycl e past 30 days 2525 1325 1200 290 398 1079 626 121 717 1293 515

NHTSA Regi on

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rode bicycl e past 30 days 143 224 241 383 556 242 140 112 342 142

White Black Other Non- Non- Non-

Rode bicycl e past 30 days Hispanic

2036 Hispanic

158 Hispanic

145 Asian

49Specified

101

39

Reasons Felt Threatened for Personal Safety

Reasons felt threatened

Overwhelmingly, the top reason bicyclists felt threatened while bicycling was due to motorists (88%). More than one-third of bicyclists (37%) also reported feeling threatened for their personal safety because of uneven walkways or roadways. One in 4 (24%) felt threatened by dogs or other animals. One in 6 (17%) felt threatened by the potential for crime. [Figure 14-A]

Top reasons felt threatened, by gender, age

There are few differences between males and females regarding reasons for feeling threatened for their personal safety while bicycling, though females were more likely to feel threatened by dogs or other animals (31%) than were males (18%). [Figure 14-B]

Bicyclists under 21 were more concerned about the potential for crime (34%) and dogs or other animals (42%) than were bicyclists over 21. [Figure 14-C]

Top reasons felt threatened, by urbanicity

Suburban bicyclists who felt threatened for their personal safety while bicycling were more likely to say it was because of uneven walkways or surfaces (43%) than were those from urban areas (31%). Bicyclists in rural areas were more likely to feel threatened by dogs or other animals (33%) than were those in suburban areas (18%). [Figure 14-D]

40

Reasons Felt Threatened for Personal Safety (Continued)

Top reasons felt threatened, by race/ethnicity

Black, non-Hispanic bicyclists (57%) were more likely to report that uneven walkways or surfaces were the reason for feeling threatened for their personal safety while bicycling than were White non-Hispanic (35%) and Hispanic (21%) bicyclists. [Figure 14-E]

Top reasons felt threatened, by household income

Bicyclists with household income levels under $30,000 were less likely on average (80% average for those under $15,000 and $15,000-$29,000) than bicyclists with higher household incomes (89% average) to say the reason they felt threatened for their personal safety while bicycling was because of motorists. Bicyclists with incomes below $30,000 annually were more likely to say they felt threatened by dogs or other animals (40% average) and by too much bicycle or pedestrian traffic (25% average) than were those with income levels $30,000 and above. [Figure 14-F]

41

FIGURE 14: REASONS FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY

A REASONS FELT THREATENED

88%

37% 24%

17% 10% 7% 4%

Motorists Uneven Dogs or Potential Too much Other Not enough/ walkways other for crime bicycle or lack of room

or roadways animals pedestrians to bicycle

Q38a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bicycle; n=351]

B

18%

88%

36%

10% 17% 19%

87%

38%

11%

31%

Motorists Uneven walkways or

roadway

Dogs or other animals

Potential for crime

Too much bicycle or pedestrian

traffic

Male Female

TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY GENDER

Q38a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bicycle]

C TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY AGE

16-20 30-45 93%85% 21-29 46-64 88% 79%

43% 32%

39% 42% 34% 30% 21% 13% 17% 22% 20% 16%14% 16% 9%5%

Motorists Uneven Dogs or other Potential for Too much walkways or animals crime bicycle or

roadway pedestrian traffic


D TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY URBANICITY

Suburban Rural Urban

89%87% 85%

43%

18% 20% 13% 31% 25%

16% 9%

41%

8%15%

33%


surfaces pedestrian traffic


42

FIGURE 14: REASONS FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY (continued)

E TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

White Non-Hispanic Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic

88%86% 82% 57%

35% 33% 21% 21% 21% 17% 28% 17% 15% 11% 9%


surfaces pedestrian traffic

TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

F

20%

77%

36% 49% 19%41%

82%

32%

11%

30%

91%

25% 24% 7%

38% 36%

2%10%19%

88% 89%

26% 11%

31% 8%

Motorists Unev en walkway s or

surf aces


Potential f or crime

Too much bicy cle or pedestrian

traf f ic

$50K-$75K <$15K

$15K-$29K $75K+

$30K-$49K

Q38a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of Q38a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bicycle] bicycle]


Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bike 351 184 167 33 64 149 95 *

Suburban Urban Rural White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other Non-Hispanic Hispanic Specified

Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bike 125 172 54 251 30 32 * *

Household Income

$30K- $50K- <$15K $15K-$29K $49K $74K $75K+

Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bike 31 34 74 76 101

*Sample size insufficient for reporting (n<30)

43

Actions Motorists Did That Were Threatening

Actions motorists did that were threatening

Among those who reported that they felt threatened by a motorist (11% of bicyclists), the top two actions that were seen as threatening were motorists driving too close to the bicyclist (40%), and motorists driving too fast (32%). Other provided reasons included the driver not seeing the bicyclist (16%), the presence of the motorist was threatening (11%), the motorist was rude (8%) and the motorist did not obey traffic laws (7%). [Figure 15-A]

Top actions motorists did that were threatening, by gender and age

There were no statistically valid differences in reported reasons for feeling threatened by motorists’ actions between male and female bicyclists. [Figure 15-B]

44

FIGURE 15: ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING

A ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING

40%

32%

16% 11%

8% 7% 6% 4% 3%

10%

Drove close/ Too fast Driver didn’t Presence of Rude motorist Don’t obey Cut me off Congestion/ Aggressive/ Other near me see me motorist traffic laws narrow careless

threatening street drivers

Q38b: What did motorists do to make you feel threatened? [Base: Felt threatened by motorist]

B

Female Male

18%

40% 29%

9% 15%

41% 38%

14%

Drov e close/near miss

Too f ast Driv er didn't see me

Presence of motorist

threatening

TOP ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING, BY GENDER


Sample bases for this page: Total Male Female

Felt threatened for personal safety last time rode bicycle 310 164 146


45

Bicycling in the Dark

Percent riding in the dark or near-dark, by total, gender, age

Overall, 20 percent of bicyclists who rode in the past 30 days reported riding in the dark or near-dark for part of their ride on the last day they rode their bicycles. Males and females were roughly equally likely to ride in the dark. The proportion riding in the dark decreased with age, with 31 percent of bicyclists 16 to 20 riding in the dark, and just 7 percent of bicyclists over 64 riding in the dark on their most recent rides. [Figure 16-A]

Percent riding in the dark or near-dark, by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

There is a significant range of bicyclists reporting riding in dark or near dark conditions across NHTSA Regions. Dark or near-dark riding ranged from a high of 28 percent of bicyclists in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) to lows of 13 percent in NHTSA Region 1(CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) and NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA). Suburban bicyclists were more likely to ride in the dark (27%) than urban (17%) or rural (19%) bicyclists. [Figure 16-B]

Percent riding in the dark or near-dark, by race/ethnicity

Black non-Hispanic (30%) and Hispanic (28%) bicyclists were more likely to ride in the dark than White non-Hispanic bicyclists (18%). [Figure 16-C]

Percent riding in the dark or near-dark, by household income

Those with household incomes under $15,000 were more likely to ride in the dark (31%) than those of higher incomes, especially those earning $75,000 or more (17%). [Figure 16-D]

46

Bicycling in the Dark (Continued)

Percent riding in the dark or near-dark, by bicycling frequency

Those who ride their bicycles only a few times a month (light-frequency bicyclists) were less likely to ride in the dark or near-dark the last time they rode their bicycle (17%) than medium-frequency (24%) or heavy-frequency (25%) bicyclists. [Figure 16-E]

Proportion of the time spent riding in the dark or near-dark

Four in 10 bicyclists (40%) report never riding in the dark or near-dark during the past year. An additional 29 percent spent almost no time riding in the dark or near-dark in that one year time frame. Thus, about 3 in 10 bicyclists (31%) spent at least some time bicycling in the dark or near-dark in the past year, with 18 percent reporting that they spent about half or more of their bicycling time riding in the dark or near-dark. [Figure 16-F]

47

FIGURE 16: BICYCLING IN THE DARK

A PERCENT RIDING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY GENDER AND AGE

31%

20% 21% 18%

27%

17% 14%

7%


GENDER AGE

B PERCENT RIDING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY

28% 27%

13%

21% 19% 20%

18% 20% 19%

23%

13% 17%

19%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Sub.

NHTSA Region Q39: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you rode Q39: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you rode your bicycle, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your ride? your bicycle, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your ride? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days] [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

C PERCENT RIDING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

30% 28% 28%

18% 18%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other non-Hispanic Hispanic specif ied

D PERCENT RIDING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

31% 22% 21% 18% 17%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+ Household Income

Q39: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you rode Q39: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you rode your bicycle, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your ride? your bicycle, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your ride? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days] [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

48

FIGURE 16: BICYCLING IN THE DARK (continued)

E PERCENT RIDING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

25% 24% 17%

Heavy Medium Light

Q39: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you rode your bicycle, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your ride? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

F PROPORTION OF THE TIME SPENT RIDING IN THE DARK OR NEAR-DARK

40%

29%

13% 11%

4% 3%

Nearly all More than About half Some Almost None half none

Q39a: During the past year, how much of your bicycling was done when it was dark or nearly dark outside? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]


Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Suburban Urban Rural Rode bicycl e past 30 days 2525 1325 1200 290 398 1079 626 121 717 1293 515

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rode bicycl e past 30 days 143 224 241 383 556 242 140 112 342 142

Household Income White Black Other Non- Non- Non- $15K- $30K- $50K-

Rode bicycl e past 30 days Hispanic

2036 Hispanic

158 Hispanic

145 Asian

49 Specified

101 <$15K

194 $29K $49K $74K

519 553 494 $75K+

720

Heavy Medium Light Rode bicycl e past 30 days 324 549 1642

49

Making Self Visible While Bicycling in the Dark

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by total, gender, age

Among those who spent at least some time riding in the dark or near-dark in the past year, more than 6 in 10 (63%) made efforts to make themselves more visible to motorists. Females (70%) were more likely to do something to make themselves more visible than were males (60%). Attempts to make oneself more visible to motorists generally increased with age, with under half of bicyclists 16 to 20 (47%) making an effort, and three-fourths of those 46 to 64 (74%) attempting to make themselves more visible. [Figure 17-A]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by race/ethnicity

Black, non-Hispanic bicyclists were more likely to try to make themselves visible in the dark (81%) than were White, non-Hispanic (62%) and Hispanic (57%) bicyclists. [Figure 17-B]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by household income

It appears that making oneself visible to motorists when riding in the dark peaks among bicyclists with household incomes between $30,000 and $74,000, while those at the highest income ($75,000 or more) and lowest income (less than $15,000) levels report lower levels of trying to make themselves visible to motorists (60% and 57% respectively). [Figure 17-C]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by bicycling frequency

There is no notable difference in the likelihood of making oneself visible to motorists by the frequency of bicycling. [Figure 17-D]

50

Making Self Visible While Bicycling in the Dark (Continued)

Methods of making selves more visible to motorists

The methods used by bicyclists to make themselves more visible after dark included wearing special clothing with reflectors or lights (50%), using a bicycle headlight or taillight (36%), making sure the bicycle had reflectors (32%), and wearing light-colored clothing (16%). Just 2 percent said they ride only in well-lit areas as a way to make themselves more visible to motorists. [Figure 17-E]

Top methods of making selves more visible to motorists, by gender, age, and bicycling frequency

Males were more likely to use lights on their bicycle (40%) than were females (30%), while females were more apt to ensure their bicycle has reflectors (44%) than were males (26%). [Figure 17-F]

Bicyclists 16 to 20 were less likely to use lights on their bicycle (21%) than older bicyclists (41% combined for older age groups) but were more likely to use reflectors on their bicycle (38%) than older bicyclists, particularly 21- to 29-year-olds (23%). [Figure 17-G]

Heavy-frequency bicyclists were more likely to wear special clothing with reflectors (59%) than were light-frequency bicyclists (47%). Light-frequency bicyclists (38%) were more apt to use a reflector on their bicycle than were heavy-frequency bicyclists (21%). [Figure 17-H]

51

FIGURE 17: MAKING SELF VISIBLE WHILE BICYCLING IN THE DARK

A PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY GENDER AND AGE

75% 74%70% 63% 60%

47%

63%

TOTAL Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64

GENDER AGE

Q39 b: When you ride your bicycle after dark, do you do anything to make yourself more visible to motorists? [Base: At least some of bicycle riding was done in dark or near-dark]

B PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

81%

62% 57% 65%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Other non-Hispanic Hispanic specified

Q39 b: When you ride your bicycle after dark, do you do anything to make yourself more visible to motorists? [Base: At least some of bicycle riding was done in dark or near-dark]

PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

57% 62%

69% 67% 60%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

C

Household Income

D PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

66% 63% 63%

Heavy Medium Light

Q39 b: When you ride your bicycle after dark, do you do anything to Q39 b: When you ride your bicycle after dark, do you do anything to make yourself more visible to motorists? [Base: At least some of bicycle make yourself more visible to motorists? [Base: At least some of bicycle riding was done in dark or near-dark] riding was done in dark or near-dark]

52

FIGURE 17: MAKING SELF VISIBLE WHILE BICYCLING IN THE DARK (continued)

50% 36% 32%

16% 2%

Wear special cloth./lights

Lights on bicycle

Ensure bicycle has reflectors

Light clothing Ride only in w ell-lit areas

E METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS

Q40: What do you do to make yourself or your bicycle more visible after dark? [Base: Do something when riding after dark to make self more visible]

F METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY GENDER

Male

Female

50% 51% 44% 40%

30% 26% 17% 15%

Wear special Lights on bicycle Ensure bicycle Light clothing cloth./lights has reflectors


METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE G VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY AGE

16-20 30-45

21-29 46-64

49% 49% 52% 53%

43% 41% 39% 38% 33% 32% 23% 20% 21% 16% 14% 12%

Wear special Lights on bicycle Ensure bicycle Light clothing clothing/lights has reflectors


METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE H VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

Heavy Light

Medium 59%

49% 47% 43% 40% 38% 31% 29%

21% 13% 17% 17%

Wear special Lights on Ensure bicycle Light clothing clothing/lights bicycle has reflectors



At l east some of bicycl e ridi ng was done Total664

Male415

Female 249

16-20 149

21-29 30-45 46-64 156 244 103

65+ *

White Non-

Hispanic 500

Black Non-Hispanic

56 i n dark or near-dark


At l east some of bicycl e ridi ng was done Hispanic

60 Asian

* specified

32 <$15K

68 $29K $49K $74K

118 135 121 $75K+

159 Heavy

153 Medium Light 168 338

i n dark or near-dark

Do something when riding after dark to make self more visible

Total437

Male 255 Female

182 16-20 72

21-29 30-45 46-64 101 179 75

65+*

Heavy110

Medium Light 113 211


53


54

Chapter 4: Bicycling Habits

This section provides information on bicycling habits and specifically covers the following topics:

• Availability and use of bicycle paths and bicycle lanes, • Reasons for not using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes, • Riding on streets and sidewalks, • Bicycle-related injuries, • Helmet laws, • Frequency of bicycle helmet usage, and • Reasons for not wearing a helmet.

55

Availability and Use of Bicycle Paths/Bicycle Lanes

Availability of bicycle paths/bicycle lanes, by total and age

Half of bicyclists reported that bicycle paths (paths away from the road on which bikes can travel) are available in the areas they rode (50%), and one-third reported that bicycle lanes (marked lanes on a public road reserved for bikes to travel) are available (32%). Younger bicyclists were most likely to report the availability of bicycle paths with 58 percent of 16-to 20-year-olds saying they were available. [Figure 18-A]

Availability of bicycle paths/bicycle lanes, by NHTSA Region

Bicyclists across the country note a range of availability of bicycle paths and lanes. Availability of bicycle paths range from a high of 68 percent in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) and 61 percent in NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) to a low of 39 percent in NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN). Availability of bicycle lanes were most noted by bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (64%), 10 (59%), and 8 (41%), while only about a quarter or fewer bicyclists in all other regions indicated the availability of bicycle lanes. [Figure 18-B]

Frequency of using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes

The frequency of using bicycle paths and bicycle lanes was very similar, with 73 percent reporting using bicycle paths at least some of the time they rode (39% most or all of the time), and 75 percent reporting using bicycle lanes at least some of the time they rode (43% most or all of the time). [Figure 18-C]

56

Availability and Use of Bicycle Paths/Bicycle Lanes (Continued)

Frequency of using bicycle paths and bicycle lanes, by urbanicity

Urban bicyclists were more likely to use bicycle paths all or most of the time (41%) than were bicyclists living in rural areas (31%). [Figure 18-D]

Urban (43%) and suburban (46%) bicyclists were more likely to use bicycle lanes all or most of the time than were bicyclists in rural areas (33%). [Figure 18-E]

Frequency of using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes, by NHTSA Region

Bicyclists in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (50%) were the most likely to use bicycle paths all or most of the time, and bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (27%) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (29%) were the least likely. [Figure 18-F]

Usage of bicycle lanes ranged from about half of bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 2 (NJ, NY), 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) , 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) and 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), to a low of about one third of bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI), 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) and 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY). [Figure 18-G]

57

FIGURE 18: AVAILABILITY AND USE OF BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES

50% 50% 49% 58%

52% 49% 47% 45%

32%31%31%34%38%

32% 33% 31%


A

Bicycle paths available Bicycle lanes available

AVAILABILITY OF BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES, BY GENDER AND AGE

GENDER AGE

Q42, 44: Are bike paths, that is, paths away from the road on which bikes can travel/bike lanes, that is, marked lanes on a public road reserved for bikes, available in the areas you ride? [Base: Have bicycle available on regular basis and/or ride at least once during the summer]

B

48% 46% 50% 39%

56%

40% 49%

61% 68%

56%

23%

59%

24%

64%

41%

20%23%26% 25%25%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

AVAILABILITY OF BICYCLE PATHS/ BICYCLE LANES, BY NHTSA REGION

Bicycle paths available Bicycle lanes available

NHTSA Region

Q42, 44: Are bike paths, that is, paths away from the road on which bikes can travel/bike lanes, that is, marked lanes on a public road reserved for bikes, available in the areas you ride? [Base: Have bicycle available on regular basis and/or ride at least once during the summer]

FREQUENCY OF USING BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES

8%

31% 34%

19%

8%10%

33%

9%15%

32%

Every Time Most of the time

Some of the time

Hardly ever Never

C Use of bicycle paths Use of bicycle lanes

Q42a, 44a: Do you ride on bike paths…? Do you ride in bike lanes…? [Base: Bicyclists who have bicycle paths/bicycle lanes available where ride]

58

FIGURE 18: AVAILABILITY AND USE OF BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES (continued)

34% 24%

29%

7% 7% 10%


D

Most of the time Every time

FREQUENCY OF USING BICYCLE PATHS, BY URBANICITY

41%

31% 39%

Q42a: Do you ride on bicycle paths…? [Base: Bicyclists Who have bicycle paths/bicycle lanes available where ride]

34% 25%

34%

12%8%9%


E FREQUENCY OF USING BICYCLE LANES, BY URBANICITY


43% 33%

46%

Q44a: Do you ride in bicycle lanes…? [Base: Bicyclists Who have bicycle paths/bicycle lanes available where ride]

F FREQUENCY OF USING BICYCLE PATHS, BY NHTSA REGION


32%

36%

32%

38%

28%

39%

33%

45%

33%

39%

23%

27% 36%

50%

34%

39%

32%

42%

24%

29%

4% 6% 11% 12% 6% 4% 14%

5% 10% 5% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

NHTSA Region 0

Q42a, 44a: Do you ride on bicycle paths…? [Base: Bicyclists Who have bicycle paths/bicycle lanes available where ride]

G FREQUENCY OF USING BICYCLE LANES, BY NHTSA REGION


32%

41%

39%

51%

39%

47%

23%

34%

28%

34%

23%

32%

28%

36% 36%

51%

46%

51%

9% 12% 8% 11% 6% 9% * 8% 15%

5% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region Q42a, 44a: Do you ride in bicycle lanes…? [Base: Bicyclists Who have bicycle paths/bicycle lanes available where ride]

**Sample bases for this page: Total 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

Have bi cycle available on regular basis 9540 720 1300 3107 2887 1469 and/or ride at least once duri ng the summer

NHTSA Region 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

503 837 1016 1731 1671 1142 498 356 1312 474

Total Urban Rural Suburban Bicyclists who have bi ke paths available 1292 667 199 426 where ri de

NHTSA Region 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

71 117 135 140 309 94 69 70 196 91

Total Urban Rural Suburban Bicyclists who have bi ke lanes availabl e 833 402 109 322

NHTSA Region 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

38 60 61 87 150 65 * 41 225 81


59

Reasons for Not Using Bicycle Paths/Bicycle Lanes

Reasons for not using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes

Bicyclists gave a variety of reasons for choosing not to use bicycle paths/bicycle lanes when they believed they were available. Over half said they do not use bicycle paths (58%) or bicycle lanes (51%) because they are not convenient, meaning they were not available where the bicyclist wanted to go. Another frequent reason for not using bicycle lanes was that bicyclists did not feel safe using them (20%), but this is cited much less often for not using bicycle paths (5%). [Figure 19-A]

Top reasons for not using bicycle paths/bicycle lanes, by bicycling frequency

Heavy-frequency bicyclists were less likely to be dissuaded to use a bicycle path by the lack of convenience (50%) than were medium-frequency bicyclists (69%). [Figure 19-B] Light-frequency bicyclists were least likely to say they didn’t use bike lanes because they were inconvenient (46% as compared to 52% of heavy- and 62% of medium-frequency bicyclists). [Figure 19-C]

60

FIGURE 19: REASONS FOR NOT USING BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES

A REASONS FOR NOT USING BICYCLE PATHS/BICYCLE LANES

58% Bicycle paths 51% Bicycle lanes

20%

10% 10% 5% 4% 4%5% 3%2% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1%

Not convenient Prefer another Don’t feel safe Too crowded Prefer more Don’t do it much/ Don’t know where Not in good repair area/just don’t use challenge/rougher don’t want to they are

Q43, 45: What is the main reason that you choose not to use the bicycle paths/lanes? [Base: Never/hardly ever use bicycle paths/lanes – but are available]

B REASONS FOR NOT USING BICYCLE PATHS, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

Heavy Light 69% Medium

56% 50%

12% 12% 9% 10% 7%5%3% 3%2%

Sidew alk/lane/paths Prefer another Don't feel safe Too crow ded w ith not conv enient area/habit just don't bicy cles or peds.

use

C REASONS FOR NOT USING BICYCLE LANES, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

Heavy Light Medium 62%

52% 46%

23% 19% 16% 12% 9% 9%8% 7%1%

Sidew alk/lane/paths Don't feel safe Prefer another Prefer more not conv enient area/habit/just don't challenge/rougher

use terrain

Q43: What is the main reason that you choose not to use the bicycle Q45: What is the main reason that you choose not to use the bicycle paths? [Base: Never/hardly ever use bicycle paths – but are available] lanes? [Base: Never/hardly ever use bicycle lanes – but are available]


Never/hardly ever use bicycle paths, but are available Total

337 Heavy

39 Medium

71 Light

226

Total Heavy Medium Light

Never/hardly ever use bicycle lanes, but are available 205 29 46 126

61

Riding on Streets and Sidewalks

Direction of bicycling in street, by total, gender, age

Seven in 10 bicyclists (69%) reported that they typically ride with traffic when riding their bicycles in the street, that is, riding in the same direction as the cars. One in four (24%) said they typically ride against traffic, riding against the direction of the cars. Male bicyclists (70%) were more likely than female bicyclists (66%) to ride with traffic. Bicyclists 30 to 45 (74%) were most apt to ride with traffic. [Figure 20-A]

Direction of bicycling in street, by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

Bicyclists across the country vary in the direction they travel when bicycling in the street. Eight in 10 bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (79%) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (80%) report bicycling with traffic when riding in the street, while just over one half of those in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (54%) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (54%) said they ride with traffic. [Figure 20-B]

Direction of bicycling in street, by race/ethnicity, household income

White, non-Hispanic bicyclists were more likely to ride with traffic (72%) than were Black, non-Hispanic (56%), and Hispanic (62%) bicyclists. [Figure 20-C]

Bicyclists in the upper income bracket of $75,000 or more were more likely to ride with traffic (76%) than were those with household incomes of $29,000 or less (61%). [Figure 20-D]

62

Riding on Streets and Sidewalks (Continued)

Direction of bicycling on sidewalk, by total, gender, age

Even when riding on the sidewalk, nearly half (45%) of bicyclists said they ride in the same direction as the cars on the adjacent street. Just 16 percent said they ride facing traffic while on a sidewalk. One in 10 (11%) volunteered it varied, and an additional 26 percent said they never ride on sidewalks.

There were no differences between the sidewalk bicycling patterns of male and female bicyclists. Sidewalk usage for bicycling decreased with age, with 95 percent of 16- to 20-year-olds using them for bicycling and just 52 percent of those over 64 using sidewalks. [Figure 20-E]

Direction of bicycling on sidewalk, by urbanicity

Bicyclists living in rural areas were less likely to use sidewalks than were those in urban and suburban areas. [Figure 20-F]

Direction of bicycling on sidewalk, by race/ethnicity, household income

Hispanic bicyclists were more likely to ride with traffic when bicycling on sidewalks (60%) than were White, non-Hispanic (44%) or Black, non-Hispanic (45%) bicyclists. [Figure 20-G] There are no notable differences by income level in the direction bicyclists rode on sidewalks. [Figure 20-H]

63

FIGURE 20: RIDING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS

24% 30%

20% 23% 17%

69% 70% 66% 63% 62% 74% 69% 68%

4% 5%

22% 26% 28%

4% 5% 3% 7% 3% 4% 3% 3% 4% 2% 5% 3% 3%

9%


DIRECTION OF BICYCLING IN STREET, BY GENDER AND AGE

A

Facing traffic With traffic

Varies/depends NA/Never ride

GENDER AGE Q46a: When riding your bicycle in the street do you typically ride facing traffic, that is, riding against the direction of the cars, with traffic, that is riding the same direction as the cars? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

B DIRECTION OF BICYCLING IN STREET, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY Varies/depends Facing traffic NA/Never ride

79% 80%

With traffic

76% 73% 72% 74% 72% 68% 65% 64%61% 54% 54%

39% 37% 28% 28%24% 24%25% 22% 20% 19%19% 13%9% 10% 5% 4%5%6% 4% 4%7%3% 4%5% 4%3% 2%2% 5%2% 4%5% 4% 1%3% 4%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburban

3%1% 1%

NHTSA Region Q46a: When riding your bicycle in the street do you typically ride facing traffic, that is, riding against the direction of the cars, with traffic, that is riding the same direction as the cars? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

22% 33%

72%

56% 62%

68%

53%

38%

22% 24%

4% 4% 8% 3%

11% 3% 2% 7% 5% 2%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other non-

DIRECTION OF BICYCLING IN STREET, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

C

Facing traffic With traffic NA/Never ride

Varies/depends

Hispanic Hispanic specif ied

Q46a: When riding your bicycle in the street do you typically ride facing traffic, that is, riding against the direction of the cars, with traffic, that is riding the same direction as the cars? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

3

0% 19%

60% 63% 63% 73% 76%

28% 25% 21% 5% 4% 7%

3% 2%3% 5% 5% 2% 2%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

DIRECTION OF BICYCLING IN STREET, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

D


Varies/depends

Household Income

Q46a: When riding your bicycle in the street do you typically ride facing traffic, that is, riding against the direction of the cars, with traffic, that is riding the same direction as the cars? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

64

FIGURE 20: RIDING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS (continued) E DIRECTION OF BICYCLING ON SIDEWALK, BY GENDER AND AGE

Facing traffic Varies/depends With traffic NA/Never ride

16% 21%

14% 13%

45% 45% 46% 54%

50% 47%

35%

26%

9% 11%

22% 16%16%

12% 9%12% 16%

8% 13%11%

48% 43%

28%

17%

5%

27% 25%26%

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 45-64 65+ GENDER AGE

Q46b: When riding your bike on the sidewalks do you typically ride…? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

F DIRECTION OF BICYCLING ON SIDEWALK, BY URBANICITY

Varies/depends With traffic Facing traffic

NA/Never ride

47% 46%

16%

37%

17% 17% 11% 8%

13% 25%

36%

23%



65

FIGURE 20: RIDING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS (continued)

14% 16%

44% 45%

60% 55% 45%

35%

21% 13% 11% 10% 8% 8%

18% 30%

9% 7% 18% 21%

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic

Hispanic Asian Other non-specified

DIRECTION OF BICYCLING ON SIDEWALK, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

G


Varies/depends


22% 14%

47% 46% 43% 50% 46%

18% 19% 12%13% 13% 10% 11% 9%15%

22% 27% 27% 30%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

DIRECTION OF BICYCLING ON SIDEWALK, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

H


Varies/depends

Household Income



Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Urban Rural Suburban Rode bicycle past 30 days 2525 1325 1200 290 398 1079 626 121 1293 515 717

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rode bicycle past 30 days 143 224 241 383 556 242 140 112 342 142

Household Income

White Black Other Non- Non- non- $15K- $30K- $50K-

Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Asian specified <$15K $29K $49K $74K $75K+ Rode bicycle past 30 days 2036 158 145 49 101 194 319 553 494 720

66


67

Bicycle-Related Injuries

Percent injured while riding a bicycle, by total and bicycling frequency

Just 4 percent of bicyclists 16 and older have been injured in the past two years while riding bicycles. Heavy-frequency bicyclists were more likely to experience injuries while bicycling (11%) than were medium- (4%) or light-frequency (2%) bicyclists. [Figure 21-A]

Percent injured while riding a bicycle, by gender, age

Male and female bicyclists were roughly equally likely to have been injured while riding a bicycle in the past two years. Bicyclists 16 to 20 were more likely to have been injured (10%) than those 21 or older (3% on average). [Figure 21-B]

Percent injured while riding a bicycle, by race/ethnicity, household income

While 6 percent or fewer bicyclists of White, non-Hispanic (3%), Black, non-Hispanic, (1%), Asian (6%), or Hispanic (5%) race or ethnicity have been injured while riding bicycles, those of other race/ethnicity (13%) were twice as likely to experience a bicycle-related injury. [Figure 21-C]

Those with household incomes under $30,000 were about twice as likely to be injured (5%) than those with higher incomes (3%). [Figure 21-D]

68

Bicycle-Related Injuries (Continued)

Projected number of bicyclists injured/hit by motor vehicle in past 2 years, by total and bicycling frequency

Over 2 million bicyclists were injured while riding bicycles in the past two years based on the self-reported data collected by this survey. An estimated 457,000 were injured as a result of being hit by a motor vehicle. Heavy-frequency bicyclists accounted for nearly 900,000 injuries and 257,000 motor vehicle-related injuries. Light-frequency bicyclists experienced nearly 700,000 injuries in the past two years, with just over 100,000 being hit by motor vehicles. [Figure 21-E]

Projected number of bicyclists injured/hit by motor vehicle in past 2 years, by gender

An estimated 323,000 male bicyclists were hit by motor vehicles while bicycling in the past two years, compared to an estimated 134,000 female bicyclists. [Figure 21-F]

69

FIGURE 21: BICYCLE-RELATED INJURIES

11%


A PERCENT INJURED WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE, BY TOTAL AND BICYCLING FREQUENCY

4% 4% 2%

Q46c: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were riding a bicycle? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

GENDER AGE

4% 3%

10%

5%

1% 2% 2%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

B PERCENT INJURED WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE, BY GENDER AND INCOME


C PERCENT INJURED WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

13%

6% 5% 3%

1%



D PERCENT INJURED WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

6%5%

3% 3% 3%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

Household Income


70

FIGURE 21: BICYCLE-RELATED INJURIES (continued)

E PROJECTED NUMBER OF BICYCLISTS INJURED/HIT BY MOTOR VEHICLE, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY (IN THOUSANDS)

Hit by Injured 2,041 Vehicle

899 697

457 445257 97 103

TOTAL Heavy Medium Light

F PROJECTED NUMBER OF BICYCLISTS INJURED/HIT BY MOTOR VEHICLE IN PAST 2 YEARS, BY GENDER

1384 Hit by Injured Vehicle

658

323134

Male Female

Q46c: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were riding Q46c: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were riding a bicycle? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical a bicycle? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. Q46d: Was the injury a result of being hit by a motor professional. Q46d: Was the injury a result of being hit by a motor vehicle? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days] vehicle? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]


Rode bicycle past 30 days Total2525

Heavy324

Medium549

Light1642

Male1325

Female1200

16-20290

21-29398

30-451079

46-64626

65+ 121

Rode bicycle past 30 days

White Non-

Hispanic 2036

Black Non-

Hispanic 158

Hispanic 145

Asian 49

Other Non-

Specified101

<$15K 194

Household Income

$15K-$29K

$30K-$49K

$50K-$74K

319 553 494 $75K+

720

71

Helmet Laws

Awareness of State bicycle helmet laws, by total, NHTSA Region

Overall, 18 percent of people 16 and older believed their State does not have a bicycle helmet law. Thirty-two percent said there is a State law that applies to both adults and children, 25 percent said it applies only to children, and 1 percent said it applies only to adults. The remaining 24 percent did not know if there was a law. [Figure 22-A]

Bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY), 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE), 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) were most likely to admit they didn’t know if their State has a bicycle helmet law (38%, 36%, 33%, and 30% don’t know, respectively). Those in NHTSA Region 2 (NJ, NY) were most likely to believe there is a helmet law in their State (88%), reporting that those laws are geared towards children (40%) or towards both children and adults (42%).

Awareness of State bicycle helmet laws, by presence of children 5 to 15 in household

Those living with children 5 to 15 in the household were more likely to say their State had bicycle helmet laws for children only (28%) than were those without children 5 to 15 (24%). Those living without children 5 to 15 were more likely to report not knowing if there was a State helmet law (26% don’t know) than were those living with children in this age group (19%). [Figure 22-B]

Awareness of State bicycle helmet laws, by race/ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic people 16 and older (27% don’t know) were less likely to venture an opinion as to whether their State has a bicycle helmet law than were those of other racial/ethnic backgrounds. Among those who claimed to know about the laws, White, non-Hispanics were split over whether the laws apply to children only (27%), or to both adults and children (27%), while Black, non-Hispanic (51%), Hispanic (51%), and Asian (52%) people were more likely to believe that the laws are for both adults and children. [Figure 22-C]

Support for helmet laws by total, NHTSA Region

Nine in 10 people 16 and older (90%) supported laws that require children to wear helmets whenever they are riding a bicycle, but just 6 in 10 (62%) supported a law requiring adults to always wear bicycle helmets. [Figure 22-D]

Support for laws for children was equal to or above 84 percent across all NHTSA Regions, with 95 percent of those in NHTSA Region 2 (NJ, NY) supporting the idea. Over 50 percent support laws for adult helmet usage across all NHTSA Regions, with the highest support again in NHTSA Region 2 (69%).

72

Helmet Laws (Continued)

Support for helmet laws, by race/ethnicity

Nearly 8 in 10 Hispanics 16 and older (79%) supported laws that require adults to wear bicycle helmets. In contrast, 59 percent of White, non-Hispanics supported helmet laws for adults.

Support for helmet laws, by presence of children 5 to 15 in household

Support for helmet laws did not differ according to whether children 5 to 15 are present in the household.

Support for helmet laws, by bicyclist status

Bicyclists (88%) were similar to nonbicyclists (91%) in level of support for bicycle helmet laws for children. However, bicyclists were less supportive of adult helmet laws (49%) than were nonbicyclists (67%). [Figure 22-E]

73

FIGURE 22: HELMET LAWS

1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1% 1%

25% 30%

40% 34%

24%

13% 19%

13% 14%

35% 28%

32% 39% 36%

18%

26% 21% 18%

42% 37%

18% 14%

4% 6%

15%

36% 30% 30%

26%

11%

19% 24%

33% 30% 36% 38%

14%

22%

42%

29%

8% 11%

24% 24%

Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

AWARENESS OF STATE BICYCLE HELMET LAWS, BY TOTAL AND NHTSA REGION A

Yes, adults only Yes, children only

Yes, both adults and children No

Don’t Know

NHTSA Region

Q49: Does your state have a law that requires adults and/or children to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle?

B

1% 1%

28% 24%

34% 31%

18%18%

26% 19%

Yes, children 5-15 No children 5-15

AWARENESS OF STATE BICYCLE HELMET LAWS, BY PRESENCE OF CHILDREN AGE 5-15 IN HOUSEHOLD

Yes, adults only Yes, both adults and children

Don’t Know Yes, children only No


1% 2% 1% 2% 3%

16% 23%

19% 27% 21%

27%

52%

33%

51% 51%

19% 7%

14% 13%

19% 14% 20%

21% 14%

27%

White Non-Hispanic

Black non-Hispanic

Hispanic Asian Other non-specif ied

AWARENESS OF STATE BICYCLE HELMET LAWS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

C

Yes, adults only Yes, both adults and children

Don’t Know Yes, children only No


D SUPPORT FOR HELMET LAWS, BY TOTAL AND NHTSA REGION Children to wear helmets when riding a bicycle

% Favor Adults to wear helmets when riding a bicycle 93% 95% 94% 92% 93% 90% 89% 90%85% 87% 84%

66% 69% 67% 67% 65% 65% 62% 58% 56% 57% 51%

Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region Q50: Do you favor or oppose laws that require …?

74

FIGURE 22: HELMET LAWS (continued) E SUPPORT FOR HELMET LAWS, BY

RACE/ETHNICITY Children to wear helmets when riding bicycle

Adults to wear helmets when riding bicycle % Favor

94% 96% 95%89% 89% 79% 75%

59% 73%

61%


Q50: Do you favor or oppose laws that require…? Q50: Do you favor or oppose laws that require…?

F SUPPORT FOR HELMET LAWS, BY PRESENCE OF CHILDREN 5-15 IN HOUSEHOLD

Children to wear helmets when riding bicycle

Adults to wear helmets when riding bicycle

91% % Favor 90%

62% 62%

Yes, children No children

G SUPPORT FOR HELMET LAWS, BY BICYCLIST STATUS

Children to wear helmets when riding bicycle

Adults to wear helmets when riding bicycle

% Favor 91% 88%

49% 67%

Bicyclist Not a bicyclist

Q50: Do you favor or oppose laws that require…?


NHTSA Region

Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Total 9616 507 843 1027 1754 1681 1149 498 358 1318 483 724 1309 3132 2914 1479 population

Whi te Black Other Non- Non- non- Not

Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Asi an specified Children 5-15 No Children 5-15 Bicycli st Bicyclist Total 7602 762 523 207 352 2677 6919 2510 7106 population

75

Frequency of Bicycle Helmet Usage

Frequency of helmet usage, by total, gender

Among those who rode a bicycle in the past 30 days, half (50%) said they never wear a helmet or did not have access to a helmet. About one-third (35%) reported that they wear a helmet for all (24%), or nearly all or most (11%), of their rides. Male and female bicyclists were about equally likely to wear a helmet. [Figure 23-A]

Frequency of helmet usage, by age

Propensity to wear a helmet for all rides increased after the teenage and young adult years, with just 13 percent of bicyclists 16 to 20 and 21 percent of bicyclists 21 to 29 reporting that they always wear a helmet. This is compared to nearly 30 percent of bicyclists 30 or older. Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) of 16-to 20-year-old bicyclists said they never wear helmets or do not have access to one. [Figure 23-B]

Frequency of helmet usage, by race/ethnicity

Asian bicyclists were most likely among all races (33%) to wear helmets for all of their rides. Hispanic bicyclists were most likely to never wear a bike helmet (59%). [Figure 23-C]

76

Frequency of Bicycle Helmet Usage (Continued)

Frequency of helmet usage, by household income

Usage of helmets for all bicycle rides tended to increase as household income increased. Three in 10 of the highest income bicyclists (31%) wear helmets for all rides, compared to 16 percent of those earning under $15,000. Conversely, 59 percent of those earning less than $15,000 said they never wear helmets or do not have access to one, compared to 44 percent of those earning $75,000 or more per year. [Figure 23-D]

Frequency of helmet usage, by bicycling frequency

Light-frequency bicyclists were least likely to wear helmets for all of their rides (23%). [Figure 23-E]

Never use/Don’t have helmet access, by NHTSA Region

As a group, bicyclists in the South and middle of the country (those in NHTSA Regions 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI) (60%), 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (58%), 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (56%), and 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN (56%)) were most likely to report they never wear bicycle helmets or do not have access to them. [Figure 23-F]

Frequency of helmet usage, by NHTSA Region

Bicyclists in NHTSA Regions 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) (55%) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (52%) were more likely than those in other regions of the country to say they wear helmets for all, or nearly all, or most of their bicycle rides. [Figure 23-G]

77

FIGURE 23: FREQUENCY OF BICYCLE HELMET USAGE

A FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY TOTAL AND GENDER Total

Male

Female 51%50% 49%

7% 7% 7% 6%7% 7%11%

24% 11%

24%

10% 25%

All rides Nearly all/Most rides

Some rides Not very many rides

Never or you don't have access to

helmet

Q47: When riding a bicycle, do you wear a helmet for…? [Base: Rode bicycle past 30 days]

B FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY AGE

21-29

16-20

30-45

65+

46-64

57% 54% 53% 50% 46%

29% 27% 29% 21% 19% 15% 14% 13% 11% 10% 10%11% 11% 10% 9%

All rides Nearly all/most rides Some/not very many rides Never or you don't have access to helmet


14%

50%

14%

55%

13%

59%

17%

41%

23%

49%

11%

25%

11% 20% 18%

10% 9%

33%

7%

20%


FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY RACE/ETHNICITY C White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Other non-specified

Asian


78

FIGURE 23: FREQUENCY OF BICYCLE HELMET USAGE (continued)

16%

59%

17%

54%

14%

55%

13%

49%

13%

44%

8%16%

9% 21% 19% 12% 9%

27% 13%

31%


FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME D

$15K-$29K $30K-$49K

$75K+ <$15K $50K-$75K


15%

49%

16%

44%

13%

53%

10%

26%

11%

29% 23%

10%

All rides Nearly all /most rides

Some/not many rides

Never or you don't have access to

helmet

FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

E

Medium

Heavy Light


37% 44% 49%

56% 60% 58% 56% 51% 41%

32%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NEVER USE/DON'T HAVE HELMET ACCESS, BY NHTSA REGION

F

NHTSA Region


79

FIGURE 23: FREQUENCY OF BICYCLE HELMET USAGE (continued)

G FREQUENCY OF HELMET USAGE, BY NHTSA REGION All rides Nearly all//most rides

55% 52%

16% 44%

40% 42% 11%

17% 13%

9%

26%

7% 25%

8% 27% 9%

34%

13%

33% 12%

41% 30%

25%27% 39%

27% 17% 18% 19% 20%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region



Rode bi cycle past 30 days Total

2525 Male

1325 Female

1200 16-20

290 21-29

398 30-45

1079 46-64

626 65+ Heavy Medium

121 324 549 Light 1642

Household Income

Whi te Black Other Non- Non- non- $15K- $30K-

Rode bi cycle past 30 days

Hispani c 2036

Hispani c 158

Hispanic145

Asi an 49

specified 101

<$15K 194

$29K 319

$49K553

$50K-$74K 494

$75K+ 720

NHTSA Regi on

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rode bi cycle past 30 days 143 224 24 383 556 242 140 112 342 142

80


81

Reasons for Not Wearing a Helmet

Reasons for not wearing a helmet

Bicyclists who did not wear helmets for all of their rides were asked whether a list of specific reasons for not wearing helmets applied to them. They could choose as many reasons they felt applied to them. The top reasons for not wearing helmets were that the bicyclist does not have one (50%), that it is too hot in the summer months to wear a helmet (47%), that helmets are uncomfortable (45%), or that they do not wear helmets for short bicycling trips (42%). Fewer agreed that their reason for not wearing helmets was because they do not like the way they look in helmets (27%), that they forgot to wear them (26%), that helmets do not provide much protection (22%), that they obstruct vision (12%), or that they are too expensive (12%). [Figure 24-A]

Top reasons for not wearing a helmet, by age and gender

Male and female bicyclists provided similar reasons for not wearing helmets every time they ride, though females were more likely to say it was because it is too hot to wear helmets (53%) than were males (44%). [Figure 24-B]

Bicyclists 65 and older (66%) were more likely than younger bicyclists to say they did not wear helmets because they did not have them. The propensity to say they didn’t wear a helmet because it was uncomfortable decreased with age, with 53 percent of 16- to 20-year-old bicyclists giving this reason, and just 35 percent of those 65 or older doing the same. [Figure 24-C]

Top reasons for not wearing a helmet, by urbanicity

Bicyclists living in urban, suburban, and rural areas provided similar reasons for not wearing helmets every time they ride, though urban bicyclists (44%) were less likely than suburban (50%) and rural (51%) bicyclists to say they did not wear helmets because it was too hot to wear them. [Figure 24-D]

Top reasons for not wearing a helmet, by race/ethnicity

Hispanic bicyclists were more likely to say they do not wear helmets while riding because it is uncomfortable (53%) than were White, non-Hispanic bicyclists (43%). [Figure 24-E]

82

Reasons for Not Wearing a Helmet (Continued)

Top reasons for not wearing helmets, by household income

The reasons provided for not wearing helmets on all bicycle rides generally do not differ significantly by income levels. However, those bicyclists with incomes under $15,000 are more likely to say it is too hot to be wearing helmets (57% as compared to 49% or fewer of higher-income bicyclists reporting this reason). [Figure 24-F]

Top reasons for not wearing helmets, by bicycling frequency

Heavy-frequency bicyclists were less likely to say that they did not wear helmets for short trips (34%) than were light- (43%) and medium- (45%) frequency bicyclists. Medium-frequency bicyclists (44%) were less likely than light-frequency bicyclists (53%) to say they don’t have a helmet. [Figure 24-G]

83

FIGURE 24: REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET

A REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET

%Yes

50% 47% 45% 42%

27% 26% 22% 12% 12%

Don't have a Too hot to be Helmets are Don't wear Don't l ike the Forgot to wear it Don't think Helmets obstruct Helmets cost too helmet wearing a uncomfortable helmet for short way you look helemts provide vision much

helmet trips when wearing a much protection helmet in case of

accident

Q48: What are the reasons you don’t always wear a bicycle helmet? Is it because… [Base: Bicyclists who do not wear a helmet for all of their rides [n=1,848]

TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY GENDER

49% 44% 45%

53% 45%

52%

Don't have a helmet Too ho t to be wearing helmet

Helmets are uncomfortable

B

%Yes

42% 42%

Don't wear helemt for short trips

Male

Female

Q48: What are the reasons you don’t always wear a bicycle helmet? Is it because…? [Base: Bicyclists who do not wear a helmet for all of their rides]

52% 53%48%46% 48%46% 48%

52%

41% 47%51%

44% 44% 36%39%42%

49%

32%35%

66%

Don't hav e a helmet

Too hot to be wearing helmet

Helmets are uncomf ortable

Don't wear helemt f or short trips

16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

C TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY AGE

%Yes


D TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY URBANICITY

Urban Suburban %Yes Rural

54% 51% 51% 50% 44%

49% 46% 46% 41% 42% 40%43%

Don't have a Too hot to be Helmets are Don't w ear helmet w earing helmet uncomfortable helemt for short

trips


E TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic Asian Other Non-Specified

%Yes 63% 64%60% 58%55% 52% 53% 59% 59% 49% 47% 50%49% 46% 43% 44% 42% 41% 41%

38%


trips


84

FIGURE 24: REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET (continued)

F TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$15K $30K-$49K $75K+ $15K-$29K

%Yes $50K-$74K

56% 57%55% 51% 53% 49% 48% 49% 46% 47% 45% 46%44% 41% 43% 42% 42% 41% 39% 40%

Don't have a helmet Too hot to be w earing helmet Helmets are uncomfortable Don't w ear helemt for short trips

Q48: What are the reasons you don’t always wear a bicycle helmet? It is because…? [Base: Bicyclists who do not wear a helmet for all of their rides]

G TOP REASONS FOR NOT WEARING A HELMET, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

Heavy Light%Yes Medium

53%49% 48%46% 46% 47% 45% 45%43% 44% 43% 34%


trips



Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Urban Rural Suburban Bicyclists who do not wear 1848 980 868 250 310 749 445 87 936 409 503 a helmet for all rides

Household Income White Black Other Non- Non- Non- $15K- $30K- $50K-

Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Asian Specified <$15K $29K $49K $74K $75K+ Bicyclists who do not wear a helmet for all rides

1474 123 116 34 78 159 253 436 349 480

Bicyclists who do not wear a helmet for all rides

Heavy225

Medium377

Light 1238

85


86

Chapter 5: Bicyclist Satisfaction

This section provides information about how satisfied bicyclists are with how their communities are designed for bicycling. Specifically, it covers the following topics:

• Satisfaction with community, • Desire for changes in community, and • Opinions on bicycling.

87

Satisfaction With Community

Satisfaction with how community is designed for bicycling, by bicycling status

Among people 16 or older, almost half (48%) expressed satisfaction with how their communities are designed for making bicycle riding safe. Just 1 in 5 (19%) was very satisfied. Bicyclists were more likely to be satisfied with their communities (57% very or somewhat satisfied) than were nonbicyclists (45%). [Figure 25-A]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for bicycling, by gender, age

Males (50%) were more likely than females (46%) to be very or somewhat satisfied with how their communities are designed for bicycling. Young bicyclists 16 to 20 were more likely to be satisfied (58% very or somewhat satisfied) than were bicyclists over 21. [Figure 25-B]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for bicycling, by race/ethnicity

Hispanic (53% very or somewhat satisfied) and Asian (60%) people 16 and older more often tended to be satisfied with how their communities are designed for making bicycling safe than were White non-Hispanic (48%) and Black non-Hispanic (46%) people. [Figure 25-C]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for bicycling, by household income

Those with incomes of $15,000 or less were more likely to be satisfied with how their communities are designed (57% very or somewhat satisfied) than were those in higher income categories. [Figure 25-D]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for bicycling by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

Satisfaction with how their community is designed was highest in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (65% very or somewhat satisfied). Satisfaction was lowest in NHTSA Region 2 (NJ, NY) (39%). Those living in urban, suburban, and rural areas were about equally likely to be satisfied with how their communities are designed. [Figure 25-E]

88

FIGURE 25: SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNITY

A PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR BICYCLING, BY BICYCLING STATUS Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

57%

48%

35%

45%

19% 22% 18%

29% 27%

Total Bicyclists Non-bicyclists

Q48a: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making bicycle riding safe?

B PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR BICYCLING, BY GENDER AND AGE

Somewhat satisfied 58% Very satisfied

50% 50%46%

38%

48% 46% 46%

29% 28% 29% 28% 27% 27%

23% 19% 18% 21% 18% 18% 21%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

GENDER AGE Q48a: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making bicycle riding safe?

C PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY

IS DESIGNED FOR BICYCLING, BY RACE/ETHNICITY Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

60%53%

48% 46% 36%

47%

29% 28% 29% 26%

19% 18% 24% 24% 21%


D PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY

IS DESIGNED FOR BICYCLING, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied 57%

49% 49% 47% 47%

28% 30% 29% 29%

18% 19% 19% 18%24%

30%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

Household Income

Q48a: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed Q48a: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making bicycle riding safe? for making bicycle riding safe?

89

FIGURE 25: SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNITY (continued)

E PERCENT VERY AND SOMEWHAT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR BICYCLING, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied 65%

28% 24% 24%

14% 15% 19%16% 20% 17% 17% 26% 23% 28% 19% 20% 19%

57% 57%52%

32%

48% 47%

30%

49%42% 45% 45% 43%

29%

41%39%

29% 27%

31% 37% 34%

26% 26%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburban NHTSA Region

Q48a: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making bicycle riding safe?


Total Population Total Bicyclists

Non-bicyclists Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

9575 2510 7065 3920 5655 722 1304 3122 2899 1471

Total Population

White Non-

Hispanic

Black Non-

Hispanic Hispanic Asian

Other Non-

Specified <$15K

Household Income

$15K-$29K

$30K-$49K

$50K-$74K $75K+

7572 756 522 206 350 1049 1526 2131 1615 1996

Total Population 1 2 3

NHTSA Region

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburban

505 839 1022 1741 1673 1145 498 357 1314 481 4625 2246 2704

90


91

Desire for Changes in Community

Desire change in community, by total, NHTSA Region and urbanicity

Regardless of how satisfied they were with the way their communities are designed for bicycling safety, almost half of people 16 or older (47%) would like to see some changes made in their community for bicyclists. Across NHTSA Regions, this desire varied very little, from 45 percent to 50 percent. Those living in suburban areas (51%) were more likely than those in urban (47%) or rural (42%) areas to desire change. [Figure 26-A]

Changes desired in community

The change most desired in the community was to increase bicycling facilities such as more bicycle lanes (38%), more bicycle paths (30%) and more bicycle trails (14%). Bicycle paths were defined as “paths away from the road on which bikes can travel” and bicycle lanes were defined as “marked lanes on a public road reserved for bikes to travel” earlier in the survey for respondents.

Smaller proportions of residents recommended improving existing bicycling facilities (8%), safety education (7%), changing laws about where bicyclists can ride (7%), improving safety for bicyclists (6%), and improving enforcement of traffic laws (4%). [Figure 26-B]

Top 3 changes desired in community, by bicycling frequency

Light-frequency bicyclists (those riding 7 or fewer days in a 30-day period in the summer months) were less interested in adding bicycle lanes (38%) than were medium-frequency bicyclists (48%). Heavy-frequency bicyclists were less interested in adding bicycle paths (22%) than were medium- (31%) or light-frequency (33%) bicyclists. [Figure 26-C]

Top 3 changes desired in community, by NHTSA Region

The desire to add bicycle lanes ranged from a low of 25 percent in NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) to a high of 44 percent in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). The recommendation for more bicycle paths ranged from a low of 20 percent in NHTSA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) to a high of 35 percent in NHTSA Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI). The desire for more bicycle trails ranged from a low of 8 percent in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) to a high of 19 percent in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MS, NE). [Figure 26-D]

92

FIGURE 26: DESIRE FOR CHANGES IN COMMUNITY

47%49% 49%46% 47%46% 50%

45% 49% 47%45%47%

42%

51%

PERCENT DESIRE CHANGE IN COMMUNITY, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY

A

Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Sub. NHTSA Region

B

38% 30%

14%

3% 8% 7% 7% 6% 4%

CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY

More bike lanes

More bike paths

More bike trails

More sidewalks

Improve existing facilities

Safety ed.

Change laws

Improve safety

Improve enforcement

Q48b: Are there any changes you would like made in your community for Q48c: What changes would you like to see made in your community? bicyclists? [Base: Desire changes in community for bicyclists]

43% 48%

38%

14% 15% 17%

33% 31% 22%

Heavy Medium Light

TOP 3 CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY

C

More bicycle lanes More bicycle paths

More bicycle trails

40% 40% 35% 41%

27% 32%

43%39% 44%

25% 20% 21%

33% 32%29% 35%

33% 33% 29% 33%

19% 10%

17% 12%

16% 8%

14% 12% 15% 14%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TOP 3 CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY, BY NHTSA REGION

More bicycle lanes More bicycle paths

More bicycle trails

D

NHTSA Region Q48c: What changes would you like to see made in your community? Q48c: What changes would you like to see made in your community? [Base: Desire changes in community for bicyclists] [Base: Desire changes in community for bicyclists]

Sample bases for this page: NHTSA Region

Total Population Total9575

1505

2839

31022

41741

51673

61145

7498

8 357

9 1314

10 481

Urban 4625

Rural 2246

Suburban 2704

Desire changes community for bicyclists

in

Total4575

Heavy203

Medium326

Light883

1263

2420

3493

4840

NHTSA Region

5769

6 558

7 241

8 180

9 593

10 218

93

Opinions on Bicycling

Opinions on bicycling

All respondents, whether they rode a bicycle during the summer months or not, were asked to rate how much they agreed that selected statements about bicycling apply to them. Overall, two-thirds of people 16 or older (67%) strongly agreed that bicycling is a great form of exercise for them (84% strongly or somewhat agree). Nearly 9 out of 10 (87%) strongly or somewhat agreed that bicycling is an enjoyable activity to do in a group, and nearly as many (79%) agreed that it is an enjoyable activity to do alone. Seven in 10 (71%) said that they would like to be bicycling more than they are now, but less than one half (48%) felt that bicycling is a great form of transportation in the area where they live. [Figure 27-A]

Opinions on bicycling, by gender

Males were more likely than females to agree that bicycling is a great form of exercise for them (by 5 percentage points), that it is an enjoyable activity to do alone (by 3 percentage points), and that they would like to bicycle more than they do now (by 3 percentage points). [Figure 27-B]

Opinions on bicycling, by age

The oldest adults 65 and older are generally least likely to agree with all of the positive statements about bicycling, with particularly lower agreement to wanting to bicycle more than they do now. The few other key differences by age include higher agreement among those 16 to 20 year olds that bicycling is a great form of transportation in the area they live, and higher agreement among those 30 to 45 that bicycling is an enjoyable group activity and they would like to bicycle more than they do now. [Figure 27-C]

94

Opinions on Bicycling (Continued)

Opinions on bicycling, by bicycling status

Those who bicycled at least once in the past 30 days prior to the interview were more likely to agree with all of the statements about bicycling than were those who did not bicycle. The differences were greatest with regards to bicycling being a great form of transportation in their area (by 20 percentage points), that bicycling is a great form of exercise (by 19 percentage points), and that they would like to bicycle more than they currently are (by 19 percentage points). [Figure 27-D]

Opinions on bicycling, by bicycling frequency

Nearly all bicyclists, whether they bicycle just a few days a month or nearly all days in a month, agreed that bicycling is a great form of exercise for them. About 9 out of 10 bicyclists also agreed that bicycling is an enjoyable activity to do in a group (91%) or alone (90%). Heavy-frequency bicyclists were more likely to agree that bicycling is a great form of transportation in the area where they live (81%) than were medium- (65%) or light-frequency (57%) bicyclists. [Figure 27-E]

Percent agreeing that bicycling is a great form of transportation in this area, by NHTSA Region

Those living in the western NHTSA Regions were more likely than those elsewhere in the country to agree that bicycling is a great form of transportation in their area (56% in NHTSA Region 8, 58% in NHTSA Region 9, and 60% in NHTSA Region 10). Those in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the country were least likely to agree with this statement (42% in NHTSA Region 3 and 39% in NHTSA Region 4). [Figure 27-F]

95

FIGURE 27: OPINIONS ON BICYCLING

58% 45%67% 24%47% 24%

26%32% 17%29%

Bicycling is an enjoyable activity to do

in a group

Bicycling is a great form of exercise

for me


alone

I w ould like to bicycle

more than I am now

Bicycling is a great form of transp. In

the area w here I live

% STRONGLY AND SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON BICYCLING

A

87% 84% 71%79%

48%

%Strongly Agree %Somewhat Agree

87% 72%

87%

49%

81%

47% 69%

78%82%87%

Biking is an enjoyable

activity to do in a group

Bicycling is a great form of exercise for

me


alone

I w ould like to bicycle more

than I am now

Bicycling is a great form of transp. In the area w here I

live

% AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON BICYCLING, BY GENDER

B

Male Female

Q51: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about bicycling. Q51: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about bicycling. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about bicycling. How about …? [Base: Total population] statements about bicycling. How about …? [Base: Total population]

81%

50%

77% 62%

92%

69% 87% 87% 89% 81% 78%

51%

82% 89% 90%

43%

69% 80% 81%87%

42%44%

74% 72% 82%

Bicycling is an enjoyable activity to do in a group

Bicycling is a great form of exercise for me

Bicycling is an enjoyable activity to do alone

I w ould like to bicycle more than I am now

Bicycling is a great form of transp. In the area w here I

live

% AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON BICYCLING, BY AGE C

30-45

16-20 46-64 21-29 65+

Q51: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about bicycling. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about bicycling. How about…? [Base: Total population]

96

FIGURE 27: OPINIONS ON BICYCLING (continued)

D % STRONGLY AND SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON BICYCLING, BY BICYCLISTS AND NON-BICYCLISTS

Bicyclists Nonbicyclists 98%85% 90%91% 84%79% 76% 65% 63% 43%

Bicycling is Bicycling is Bicycling is I w ould like Bicycling is an enjoyable a great form an enjoyable to bicycle a great form activity to do of exercise activity to do more than I of transp. In

in a group for me alone am now the area w here I live

Q51: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about bicycling. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about bicycling. How about…? [Base total population]

Bicycling is Bicycling is Bicycling is I w ould like Bicycling is an enjoyable a great form an enjoyable to bicycle a great form activity to do of exercise activity to do more than I of transp. In

in a group for me alone am now the area w here I live

E % STRONGLY AND SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON BICYCLING, BY BICYCLING FREQUENCY Heavy Medium

Light 99%92% 98% 89%99% 93% 90% 90% 83% 81%90% 92% 65%

57% 71%


F BICYCLING IS A GREAT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IN THIS AREA, BY NHTSA REGION

60% 58%56% 51% 49%

42% 39%

51% 45% 48%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10NHTSA Region



Total population

Total9616

Male3936

Female5680

16-20724

21-291309

30-453132

46-642914

65+ 1479

Heavy 325

Medium 553

Light 1670

Bicyclists 2510

Non-Bicyclists 7106

Total population

1507

2843

31027

4 1754

NHTSA Region

5 61681 1149

7498

8358

91316

10 483

97


98

II. Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors

Chapter 1: Overall Pedestrian Behaviors

This section provides information on the pedestrian behaviors of people 16 and older. Specifically it covers the following topics:

• Frequency of walking, • Days spent walking, • Profile of pedestrians, • Change in pedestrian behavior, • Reasons for not walking, • Number of walking trips among those walking at least once in past 30 days, and • Estimated total number of walking trips.

99

Frequency of Walking

Frequency of walking in summer months

Nearly 3 in 4 (72%) people 16 or older reported that they walked an average of at least once a week during the summer months. Walking was defined as any outdoor walking, jogging or running that lasts at least five minutes or more. About 1 in 10 (9%) said they walk at least once a month, but not weekly. Just 4 percent reported walking less than once a month, and 14 percent reported never walking in the summer months. [Figure 28-A]

Frequency of walking in summer months, by gender

There were no notable differences in walking frequency by gender. Males (70%) were about equally likely as females (73%) to say they walk at least once a week in the summer months. [Figure 28-B]

Frequency of walking in summer months, by age

Propensity to walk at least once a week remained above 70 percent among people of all age groups except those 65 and older (65%). People in that older age range were more apt to report they never walk (25%) than were those of younger age groups. [Figure 28-C]

Frequency of walking in summer months, by race/ethnicity

Black, non-Hispanic people 16 or older (68%) were least likely of all listed races/ethnicities to report walking at least once a week in the summer months. [Figure 28-D]

Frequency of walking in summer months, by NHTSA Region

Reports of walking at least once a week in the summer months varies across NHTSA Regions, from a high of 81 percent in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) to a low of 65 percent in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (65%). [Figure 28-E]

100

FIGURE 28: FREQUENCY OF WALKING

FREQUENCY OF WALKING IN SUMMER MONTHS

A

72%

9% 4% 14%

At least once a At least once a Less than once a Never week month, but not

weekly month, but at least

once during the summer

Q52: On average, during the summer months, how often do you walk?

B FREQUENCY OF WALKING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY GENDER Male

73% Female 70%

10% 9% 4% 4% 15% 14%

At least once a Once a month, Less than once a Never w eek but not w eekly month


C FREQUENCY OF WALKING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY AGE

46-64 16-20 75%72% 73% 65+ 72% 21-29

65% 30-45

25% 14%12% 10% 11% 11% 11% 8% 10%5% 5%6% 4%4% 3%

At least once a Once a month, but Less than once a Never week not weekly month

FREQUENCY OF WALKING IN SUMMER MONTHS, D BY RACE/ETHNICITY

AsianWhite Non-Hispanic 77% 72% 74% 73% Other Non-Black Non-Hispanic 68% Specified Hispanic

15% 15%10%11% 14% 11%10%9% 7% 7% 5% 5%4% 4% 4%

At least once a Once a month, but Less than once a Never week not weekly month

Q52: On average, during the summer months, how often do you walk? Q52: On average, during the summer months, how often do you walk?

101

FIGURE 28: FREQUENCY OF WALKING (continued)

7


11%9% 9%10%9% 8%12% 8%10%9% 8% 11% 3%

73% 75%

13% 2%

13% 4%

72%

18% 5%

67%

14% 4%

73%

5%

69%

17%

65%

14% 5%

77%

8%4%

74%

12% 4%

81%

7%

At least once a w eek Once a month, but not w eekly Less than once a month Never

FREQUENCY OF WALKING IN SUMMER MONTHS, BY NHTSA REGION E 1 2 3

4 5 6

8 9

10


Total Population Total9616

Male3936

Female5680

16-20724

21-291309

30-453132

46-642914

65+ 1479

Total Population

Total Population

1507

White Non-

Hispanic 7602

2 3 4843 1027 1754

Black Non-

Hispanic Hispanic

762 523

NHTSA Region 5 6 7

1681 1149 498

Asian

Other

Non-Specified

207 352

8358

91316

10 483

102

Days Spent Walking

Average number of days in past month walked, by total, gender, age

People 16 and older who walked at all in the summer months walked on average 14.9 days during the past 30 days in the summer months. Males (15.0) and females (14.9) reported the same number of walking days. Those 16 to 20 (15.8) and 65 and older (15.9) walked more often in the past 30 days than did those 21 to 64. [Figure 29-A]

Average number of days in past month walked, by NHTSA Region

Those who walked at least once in the summer months and live in NHTSA Region 2 (NY, NJ) (17.4 days) reported higher average number of days walking in the past 30 days than did those living in other regions of the country. Those living in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (13.8), 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (13.9) and 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (13.9) averaged the fewest number of days walking. [Figure 29-B]

Walking frequency, based on days per month walked

The frequency with which one walked can be divided into heavy (walking 20 or more days per month), medium (8 to 19 days per month) and light (1 to 7 days per month). About 1 in 3 pedestrians is a light-frequency pedestrian (31%), 29 percent are medium-frequency pedestrians, and 41 percent are heavy-frequency pedestrians. [Figure 29-C]

103

FIGURE 29: DAYS SPENT WALKING

A AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS IN PAST MONTH WALKED, BY GENDER AND AGE

15.8 15.9 14.9 15.0 14.9 14.6 14.5 14.8


B AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS IN PAST MONTH WALKED, BY NHTSA REGION

17.4 15.9 15.3 15.4 14.7 14.9 14.6 13.8 13.9 13.9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region

Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did did you walk? [Base: Total who walk in the summer] you walk? [Base: Total who walk in the summer]

C WALKING FREQUENCY, BASED ON DAYS PER MONTH WALKED

41%

31% 29%

Light (1-7 days) Medium (8-19 days) Heavy (20-31 days) (n=2,230) (n=2,217) (n=3,103)

Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you walk? [Base: Total population]


Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Total who walk in 8147 3309 4838 641 1152 2751 2472 1086

the summer NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total who walk in 450 719 892 1422 1412 934 418 318 1134 448

the summer

104

Profile of Pedestrians

Those who walked at least once in past 30 days, by total, gender, age

More than 3 in 4 people 16 and older (78%) reported walking at least once in the past 30 days in the summer months. There was no notable difference between males and females, nor between most age groups. The exception was the oldest age group, who were less likely to report walking in the past 30 days (66%). [Figure 30-A]

Those who walked at least once in past 30 days, by race/ethnicity

Reports of walking at least once in the past 30 days in the summer months ranged from 84 percent among Asians to 75 percent among Black, non-Hispanics. [Figure 30-B]

Those who walked at least once in past 30 days, by NHTSA Region

Those residing in NHTSA Regions 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (88%) and 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (85%) were more likely than those in other regions to walk at least once in the past 30 days in the summer. Those in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (72%) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (74%) were the least likely to be pedestrians. [Figure 30-C]

105

FIGURE 30: PROFILE OF PEDESTRIANS

A THOSE WHO WALKED AT LEAST ONCE PAST

THIRTY DAYS, BY GENDER AND AGE

78% 78% 78% 83% 81% 82% 78% 66%


GENDER AGE

B THOSE WHO WALKED AT LEAST ONCE PAST THIRTY DAYS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

84%80% 78% 75% 79%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other Non-Hispanic Hispanic specif ic

Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you walk? [Base: Total population] you walk? [Base: Total population]

THOSE WHO WALKED AT LEAST CONCE PAST THIRTY DAYS, BY NHTSA REGION

88% 80% 81% 78% 80% 78%

85% 82% 72% 74%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region

Q52c: Thinking about the past 30 days, about how many of those days did you walk? [Base: Total population]


Total Population Total

9616 Male

3936 Female

5680 16-20

724 21-29 1309

30-45

3132 46-64

2914 65+

1479

White Non-Hispanic

7602

Black Non-Hispanic

762 Hispanic

523 Asian

207

Other Non- specified

352

NHTSA Regi on

Tota l Population 1

507 2

843 3

1027 4

1754 5 6

1681 1149 7

498 8

358 9 10

1316 483

106

Change in Pedestrian Behavior

Change in walking behavior over past year, by total, gender and age

Just over half of pedestrians (defined as those walking at least once in the past 30 days in the summer months) reported no change in their walking behavior from a year ago (51%). Three in 10 (30%) reported walking more often than they did a year ago, and 19 percent reported walking less often. Females (32%) were more likely than males (28%) to report an increase in walking since the past year. The percentage reporting an increase in walking compared to a year ago declined with age, dropping from 41 percent of those 16-20, to 37 percent among 21-29, 33 percent among those 30-45, 26 percent among 46-64 and then 14% 65 and older. [Figure 31-A]

Change in walking behavior over past year, by NHTSA Region

Increases in walking behavior from a year ago varied a bit by NHTSA Region, ranging from 25 percent reporting an increase in Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) to 34 percent reporting an increase in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT). Reported decreases in walking ranged from 23 percent in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) to 15 percent in NHTSA Regions 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA). [Figure 31-B]

Change in walking behavior over past year, by urbanicity

Urban (31%) and suburban (30%) dwellers were more likely to report increases in walking behavior compared to a year ago than were those living in rural areas (26%). [Figure 31-C]

Change in walking behavior over past year, by walking frequency

The frequency with which one walked can be divided into heavy (walking 20 or more days per month), medium (8 to 19 days per month) and light (1 to 7 days per month).

Heavy-frequency walkers were more likely to report an increase in walking from a year ago (36%) than were medium-frequency (31%) or light-frequency (21%) walkers. [Figure 31-D]

107

FIGURE 31: CHANGE IN PEDESTRIAN BEHAVIOR

GENDER AGE

30% 28% 32%

41% 37% 33% 26%

14%

51% 55% 47%

37%

50% 44%

57% 61%

19% 17% 21% 23% 18%

25% 17% 17%



CHANGE IN WALKING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY GENDER AND AGE

A

Q91: Compared to about a year ago, would you say you are walking more often, less often or about the same amount? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

34% 31% 32% 30% 31% 26% 30% 29% 29% 25% 20% 23% 19% 18% 19% 19% 20%15% 15%

59%

48% 51% 55%

50% 47% 53% 50% 52% 51%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10


CHANGE IN WALKING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY NHTSA REGION

B

NHTSA Region

18%


50%53% 51%



CHANGE IN WALKING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY URBANICITY

C

31% 30%26% 20% 20%17%


49%54%

Heavy Medium Light


CHANGE IN WALKING BEHAVIOR OVER PAST YEAR, BY WALKING FREQUENCY

D

36%

21% 31%

49%

19% 30%

10%


Sample bases for this page: Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Urban Rural Suburban

Walked past 30 days 7585 3084 4501 601 1076 2579 2293 996 3675 1717 2193

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Walked past 30 days 423 677 832 1287 1334 854 380 295 1077 426

Walked past 30 days Heavy Medium Light

3098 2213 2206

108

Reasons for Not Walking

Reasons for not walking in the summer or for not walking more recently

One in 5 (20%) people 16 or older reported they never walk or had not done so during the past 30 days over the summer of 2002. This represents approximately 41 million people who did not walk. The top reasons given for not walking included lack of desire or need (27%), disabilities and other health impairments (25%), and weather conditions (23%). [Figure 32-A]

Top reasons for not walking, by gender, age

Females were more likely to cite disability (31%) and weather conditions (28%) as a reason for not walking than were males (18% and 19% respectively). Males were more likely to report a lack of desire or need (32%) than females (23%) and that they got exercise in other ways (14% vs. 6%). One half of people 65 and older who did not walk reported the main reason is because of a disability (50%). Those 16 to 20 who did not walk were more likely to report it is because of a lack of desire or need (39%) than did other age groups. They were also more likely to report not walking because of weather conditions (31%). [Figure 32-B]

Top reasons for not walking, by NHTSA Region

Those in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (36%) who did not walk were more likely to cite lack of need or desire to walk than were those living in other regions of the country (next highest region is 32% in NHTSA Region 6). Those living in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (29%) and 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (33%) were more likely to cite weather conditions as a top reason for not walking than were those elsewhere. [Figure 32-C]

109

FIGURE 32: REASONS FOR NOT WALKING

27% 25% 23%

10% 6%

3%

REASONS FOR NOT WALKING IN THE SUMMER OR FOR NOT WALKING MORE RECENTLY

A

Don’t need to/want to/ lazy

Disability/ Health impairment

Weather/ area cond.

Exercise in other ways

Use other transport.

No safe place to walk

Q52e: What is the primary reason you never walk in the summer/have not walked more recently? [Base: Never walk in summer months or have not walked in past 30 days]

23% 18% 19%

6%

18%

2%

27%

8%

31%

50%

36% 39% 32% 27%32%

7%6%

23% 14%14%

26% 25% 31%28%

M ale Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

B TOP REASONS FOR NOT WALKING, BY GENDER AND AGE

Disability/health impairment

Exercise in other waysWeather/area conditions

Don’t need to/want to/ lazy

GENDER AGE

14% 6%

13%14%


TOP REASONS FOR NOT WALKING, BY NHTSA REGION

26%

31%

23% 20% 22%

30% 27%

30%

23%

32% 31% 27%

15%

10% 12%

8%7% 12%

29%

13%

25% 23%

12%

23%

C

25% 30%

20%

30% 30%

12% 9%

26%

12%

Disability/health impairment Don’t need to/want to Exercise in other ways

19% 21%

10%

33%

Weather/area conditions

36%

7%

21%

1 2 3 4 5 6 NHTSA Region

7 8 9 10



Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Never walk in summer months or have not 1875 792 1083 114 215 501 584 446walked in past 30 days

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Never walk in summer months or have not walked in past 30 days 77 153 176 431 323 272 113 56 221 53

110

Number of Walking Trips (Among Those Walking at Least Once in Past 30 Days)

Percent taking 1, 2, 3, 4, or more trips

An estimated 13.33 billion walking trips were made during the summer of 2002. Over half took just one trip on the last day they walked (57%), 29 percent took two trips, and the remainder took three or more trips (13%). This translates to an average of 1.7 trips on the last day they walked. Average daily trips were projected out to total summer month averages based on the reported number of days walked. [Figure 33-A]

Average number of trips, by total, gender and age

Male and female pedestrians took the same average number of trips on the most recent day they walked in the summer of 2002. The number of walking trips declined with age from a high of 2.0 trips the last day walking among walkers under 21 to 1.5 trips among pedestrians 46 or older. [Figure 33-B]

Average number of trips, by NHTSA Region

Average walking trips the last day walked ranged from a high of 2.0 in NHTSA Region 2 (NJ, NY) to lows of 1.6 trips in NHTSA Regions 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT), 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) and 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE). [Figure 33-C]

Average number of trips, by walking frequency

There were no differences in number of trips taken on the most recent day walked by frequency of walking in the past 30 days. [Figure 33-D]

111

FIGURE 33: NUMBER OF WALKING TRIPS (AMONG THOSE WALKING AT LEAST ONCE IN PAST 30 DAYS)

A PERCENT TAKING 1, 2, 3, 4 OR MORE TRIPS

57%

29%

8% 5%

1 Trip 2 Trips 3 Trips 4 or more trips

B AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BY GENDER AND AGE

2.0 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7

1.5 1.5


GENDER AGE

Q55: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you walked? Q55: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you walked? [Base: Walked past 30 days] [Base: Walked past 30 days]

C AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BY NHTSA REGION

2.0 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1NHTSA Region

Q55: How many trips did you make on this most recent day you walked? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

1.6 1.5 1.6

Heavy Medium Light

D AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BY WALKING FREQUENCY



Walked past 30 days

Walked past 30 days

Total7562

1417

Male3072

2 677

Female4490

3830

16-20600

41285

21-29 30-451075 2575

NHTSA Region

5 61333 845

46-642290

7379

65+ 982

8295

91076

10 425

Walked past 30 days Heavy

3088 Medium

2207 Light

2199

0

112

Estimated Total Number of Walking Trips

Estimated total number of walking trips typical summer months, by total, gender, and age

During the summer months of 2002, a projected 13.33 billion walking trips were made by people 16 and older. This reflects an estimated 6.31 billion trips made by male pedestrians and 7.02 billion trips made by female pedestrians. Those 30 to 45 made 4.43 billion walking trips, compared to 1.96 billion trips made by those 16 to 20 and 1.43 billion trips made by those 65 or older. [Figure 34-B]

Estimated total number of walking trips, by NHTSA Region

The number of pedestrian trips ranged from highs of 2.44 billion in NHTSA Region 5 (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI), to lows of less than 1 billion in NHTSA Regions 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) (.73 billion), 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (.58 billion), 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (.53 billion), and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (.68 billion). [Figure 34-C]

Proportion of walking trips taken by walking frequency

Heavy-frequency pedestrians who walked at least 20 days per month (41% of pedestrians) took 74 percent of walking trips made by pedestrians during the summer of 2002, compared to 20 percent of trips made by medium-frequency bicyclists who walked between 8 and 19 days per month (29% of the pedestrian population). Light-frequency pedestrians walking 7 or fewer days per month (31% of the pedestrian population) took just 6 percent of the walking trips. [Figure 34-D]

113

FIGURE 34: ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF WALKING TRIPS

A ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF WALKING

TRIPS, BY TOTAL GENDER AND AGE (IN BILLIONS)13.33

7.026.31 4.43

3.33 1.96 2.11 1.43



B ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF WALKING TRIPS, BY NHTSA REGION (IN BILLIONS)

2.44

1.96 1.91 1.71

1.51 1.30

0.73 0.680.58 0.53

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region


C PROPORTION OF WALKING TRIPS TAKEN BY WALKING FREQUENCY

74%

20%

6%

Heavy Medium Light



Walked in past 30 days

Total7562

Male3072

Female4490

16-20600

21-291075

30-452575

46-642290

65+ 982

Heavy 3088

Medium 2207

Light 2199

NHTSA Region

Walked in past 30 days

1417

2677

3830

41285

51333

6845

7379

8295

91076

10 425

114


115

Chapter 2: Origin-Destination Information for Walking

This section provides information about specific trip data on the most recent day a walk was taken. Specific trip data were collected for up to six trips (including origin and destination information, purpose, time, distance, etc.) on the most recent day traveled. These data cannot be used to project year-round walking behaviors but offer a solid reflection of walking trips taken during the summer of 2002.

Specifically this chapter covers the following topics:

• Origin of walking trips, • Purpose and destination of walking trips, and • Characteristics of walking trips.

116

Origin of Walking Trips

Starting point of the day’s first trip

Eight in 10 (80%) walking trips began at a residence either belonging to the pedestrian or someone else. An additional 8 percent of trips began at a leisure or recreational site such as a park. Just 5 percent began at work, 3 percent began at a transportation site, and 4 percent began in some other location. [Figure 35-A]

Type of area where first trip began

In those instances where the first trip of the day did not begin at home, respondents were asked to describe the area within one-quarter mile of where the day’s trips began. One-third of trips began in a recreational area (34%), 20 percent began in a residential area, and 21 percent began in a commercial area. [Figure 35-B]

Type of area (urbanicity) where first trip began

Nearly 4 in 10 trips (39%) started in an urban or suburban area, with an additional 27 percent beginning in a rural town or farm area and 25 percent beginning in a downtown city area. [Figure 35-C]

Ranges of time first trip began

A plurality of trips (45%) began in the morning hours of 12:01a.m. through noon, 28 percent began in the afternoon hours between noon and 5:59 p.m., and 22 percent began in the evening hours of 6 p.m. through midnight. [Figure 35-D]

117

FIGURE 35: ORIGIN OF WALKING TRIPS

A STARTING POINT OF THE DAY’S FIRST TRIP

80%

8% 5% 4%3%

Own/Othrs Leisure/rec. Work Transportation Other home site Site

Q56: Thinking of this last day that you walked, what was your starting point for this trip? [Base: Walked past 30 days; n=7,562]

B TYPE OF AREA WHERE FIRST TRIP BEGAN

34%

21%

15% 20%

3% 3% 2% 1%

Recreation.Resident. Comm. Public Agricult. Industrial Other DK/Ref. Bldgs.

Q58: Was the area within ¼ mile of where you started your trip…? [Base: Walked past 30 days beginning first trip somewhere other than own home; n=1,672]

C TYPE OF AREA (URBANICITY) WHERE FIRST TRIP BEGAN

39%

27% 25%

6% 1% 1%

Urban/sub. Rural town/ Downtown Wild./ctry. Unspecified DK/RF area farm city area forest

Q59: Was the starting point in a…? [Base: Walked past 30 days beginning first trip somewhere other than own home; n=1,672]

D RANGES OF TIME FIRST TRIP BEGAN 45%

28%

22%

Before noon 12:00 p.m. - 5:59 p.m. 6:00 p.m. or later

Q57: What time did you begin this trip? [Base: Walked past 30 days; n=7,562]

118

Purpose and Destination of Walking Trips

Note the data presented in this section are based on the total trips taken on the most recent day walked.

Purpose of trips

Pedestrians reported a variety of reasons as the primary purposes for walking trips. The most common purpose of trips was for personal errands (38%). Additional primary trip purposes included exercise/for health reasons (28%) and for recreation or leisure (21%). Just 5 percent said they walked to commute to work or school, and 4 percent said that walking is required for their job. [Figure 36-A]

Ending points of trips

The most common ending point of a walking trip was a home (61%). An additional 10 percent ended at a leisure or recreation site, 9 percent ended at a shopping site and 7 percent ended at work. [Figure 36-B]


The majority of the trips ended in residential areas (61%), but more than 1 in 10 also ended in commercial (14%) and recreational (12%) areas. An additional 7 percent ended at a public building. [Figure 36-C]

Type of area (urbanicity) where trips ended

Trips ended in mostly urban or suburban areas (58%), with an additional 16 percent ending in a downtown city area and 22 percent in a rural town or farm area. [Figure 36-D]

119

FIGURE 36: PURPOSE AND DESTINATION OF WALKING TRIPS

38%

28%

21%

5% 4% 3%

Persl. errands

(store, p.o.)

Exer./for health

Rec./leisure Comm. to work/school

Required for job

Other

PURPOSE OF TRIPSA

Q59a 75a: What was the main purpose of this trip? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,283]

10% 7% 4% 3% 2% 2%

61%

9%

B

Own/others home

Leis./ rec.site

Shopping site

Work Trans. site

Spec. Comm. Bldg.

Spec.Non-Comm. Bldg.

Other

ENDING POINTS OF THE TRIPS

Q60,76: Where did this trip end? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,203]

61%

14% 12% 7%

3% 1% 1%

C TYPE OF AREA WHERE TRIPS ENDED

Resident. Comm. Agricult. Public Bldgs.

Recreation. Industrial DK/Ref.

Q62,78: Was the area within ¼ mile of where you ended this trip? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,203]

58%

22% 16%

2% 2% 1%

D TYPE OF AREA (URBANICITY) WHERE TRIPS ENDED

Urban/sub. area

Downtown city area

Rur. town/ farm

Unspec. DK/RF Wild./ctry./ forest

Q63,79: Was the ending point in a…? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,203]

120

Characteristics of Walking Trips

Trip lengths on most recent day walked

The average reported walking trip taken most recently during the summer was 1.3 miles. Half of trips (50%) were less than 1 mile, and an additional 13 percent were 1 mile. Just 7 percent of trips were more than 5 miles. [Figure 37-A]

Type of roads walked on

During the most recent day of walking, 45% of pedestrians walked mostly on sidewalks. Other surfaces used for walking trips included paved roads, not on shoulders (25%), shoulders of paved roads (8%), unpaved roads (8%), or bicycle paths, walking paths or trails (6%). [Figure 37-B]

Inclination of roads walked on

Walking trips were taken primarily on flat surfaces (61%). An additional 27 percent of trips were on flat surfaces with a hill or two, and 11 percent of trips were on mostly hilly surfaces. [Figure 37-C]

Number of people on trips

Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) walking trips were taken alone. An additional 24 percent of trips were taken with one other person. About 2 in 10 (19%) trips were taken with two or more other people. [Figure 37-D]

121

FIGURE 37: CHARACTERISTICS OF WALKING TRIPS

A TRIP LENGTHS ON MOST RECENT DAY WALKED

Mean 1.3 miles

50%

17% 13%

8% 7%

Less than 1 1 mile 1.1-2 miles 2.1-3 miles More than 3 mile miles

Q64, 80: How far did you walk on this trip? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,283]

B TYPE OF ROADS WALKED ON

45%

25%

8% 8% 6% 5% 1% 1%

Sidewalks Paved Shoulders Unpaved Bike Other M ixed Other roads, not of paved roads paths, facilit ies facilit ies

on roads walking shoulder paths or

trails

Q66, 82: Did you walk mostly on…? [Base: Data for all trips; n=12,283]

61%

27%

11%

Flat Flat w ith a hill or tw o Mostly hills

INCLINATION OF ROADS WALKED ON C

24%

9% 10%

57%

Traveled alone One person Tw o people Three or more people

D NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON TRIPS

Q67,83: On this trip, did you walk on a surface that was mainly…? [Base: Q68,84: How many other people were with you on this trip? [Base: Data Data for all trips; n=12,283] for all trips; n=12,283]

122


123

Chapter 3: Walking as Mode of Transportation

This section provides data on walking as a mode of transportation. Specifically, it covers topics including:

• Alternatives to walking, • Personal feelings of safety while walking, • Reasons for feeling threatened when walking, • Actions motorist did that were threatening, • Walking in the dark, and • Making self visible while walking in the dark.

124

Alternatives to Walking

Availability of other modes of transportation, by total, age and gender

Walking was a preferred mode of transportation even when other modes of transportation were available. Among those who reported walking trips for non-recreational purposes, 3 in 4 (75%) reported that other types of transportation were available instead of walking. Males and females were equally likely to have alternative transportation available (75%). Those in the oldest (65+) and youngest (16-20) age categories were less likely to say other modes of transportation were available to them on their last day of walking. [Figure 38-A]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by race/ethnicity

Hispanic pedestrians (68%) who were not walking for recreation were less likely than were White non-Hispanic pedestrians (75%) to have another transportation mode available to them. [Figure 38-B]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by household income

The availability of alternate modes of transportation when walking was lower for those with household incomes under $15,000 (70%) than it was for those with household incomes between $30,000 and $74,000 (79%). [Figure 38-C]

Availability of other modes of transportation, by walking frequency

Medium frequency pedestrians were more likely to have other types of transportation available to them on the most recent day they walked for non-recreation purposes (79%) than did those walking more frequently (72%). [Figure 38-D]

125

Alternatives to Walking (Continued)

Decision to walk instead of alternative modes

Among those who had an alternative type of transportation available to them, the main reason they chose to walk was for the exercise (39%). Other reasons provided were because they enjoy walking or good weather (26%), walking is convenient (12%), or for recreation (6%). [Figure 38-E]

Decision to walk instead of alternative modes, by purpose of trip

Exercise was the most reported reason for choosing to walk for pedestrians regardless of the purpose of their walk trip. Sizable proportions of those who walk as their commuting mode (18%) and whose trip was for nonrecreation/nonpersonal errands (25%) reported they decided to walk because it was convenient. [Figure 38-F]

126

FIGURE 38: ALTERNATIVES TO WALKING

A AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY GENDER AND AGE

77%75% 75% 75% 76% 75% 73% 69%


GENDER AGE

Q86: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that you could have used instead of walking? [Base: People who made trips other than just for recreation]

75% 77% 68% 70%

78%

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic


AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

B

Q86: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that you could have used instead of walking? [Base: People who made trips other than just for recreation]

AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

70% 74% 79% 79% 76%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

C

Household Income

D AVAILABILITY OF OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, BY WALKING FREQUENCY

79% 76% 72%

Heavy Medium Light

Q86: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that Q86: On that day, were other types of transportation available to you that you could have used instead of walking? [Base: People who made trips you could have used instead of walking? [Base: People who made trips other than just for recreation] other than just for recreation]

127

FIGURE 38: ALTERNATIVES TO WALKING (continued)

DECISION TO WALK INSTEAD OF ALTERNATIVE MODES E

39%

26%

12% 6% 5%4% 3% 2% 1% 1%

For the Enjoy Walking is For recreation Walking is Had dog with Other trans. No parking Went with Other exercise walking/good convenient cheaper me Not available someone else

weather

Q87: What is the main reason that you chose to walk instead of some other form of transportation that day? [Base: Alternate form of transportation available for non-recreational trips; n= 3,001]

DECISION TO WALK INSTEAD OF ALTERNATIVE MODES, BY PURPOSE OF TRIP F

For the exercise For recreation Enjoy walking/good weather 45% Walking is cheaper

Walking is convenient 39%

34% 31%

27% 25% 24%

20% 23%

18%

12% 8% 8% 7%6%6% 4% 4%2%3%

Any Commuting Any Recreation/Exercise Any Personal Errands Any Other Purpose

Q87: What is the main reason that you chose to walk instead of some other form of transportation that day? [Base: Alternate form of transportation available for non-recreational trips]

Sample bases for this page: White Non- Black Non-

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Hispanic Hispani c Made tri ps other than j ust for recreation 3960 1648 2312 399 639 1347 1080 476 2979 370


Made tri ps other than j ust for recreation Hispanic

284 Asian specified <$15K $29K $49K $74K

82 174 517 668 913 632 $75K+ Heavy Medium Light

753 1806 970 1148

Total Any Any

Commuting Recreation/Exercise Any Persona l Errands Any Other Purpose Alternate form of transportation 3001 337 1248 2165 244

available for non-recreational trips

128

Personal Feelings of Safety While Walking

Percent felt threatened for personal safety, by total, gender, age

Just 6 percent of pedestrians felt threatened for their personal safety on the most recent day they walked in the summer of 2002. Males and females were equally likely to have felt threatened. Pedestrians 16 to 20 were more likely to have felt threatened (10%) than were those of other age groups. [Figure 39-A]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by urbanicity

There were no notable differences by urbanicity among those who felt threatened for their personal safety while walking. [Figure 39-B]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by NHTSA Region

There was little variation across the country in the proportion of pedestrians who felt threatened for their personal safety, ranging from 2 percent in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) to 8 percent in NHTSA Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT). [Figure 39-C]

Felt threatened for personal safety, by race/ethnicity

White, non-Hispanic pedestrians (5%) were least likely to feel threatened for their personal safety while walking. [Figure 39-D]

129

FIGURE 39: PERSONAL FEELINGS OF SAFETY WHILE WALKING

A PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY GENDER AND AGE

10%

6% 6% 6% 6% 6% 5%

4%


GENDER AGE

Q88: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety at any time while walking that day? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

B PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY URBANICITY

7% 6%

5%

Suburban Urban Rural

Q88: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety at any time while walking that day? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

C PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, BY NHTSA REGION

8% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7%

4% 2%

5%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

NHTSA Region

PERCENT FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL D SAFETY, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

13% 12%

5% 8% 8%


0

Q88: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety at any time while Q88: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety at any time while walking that day? [Base: Walked past 30 days] walking that day? [Base: Walked past 30 days]


Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Suburban Urban Rura l Wal ked past 30 days 7585 3084 4501 601 1076 2579 2293 996 2193 3675 1717

NHTSA Regi on

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wal ked past 30 days 423 677 832 1287 1334 854 380 295 1077 426

White Black Other Non- Non- Non-

Hispanic Hispanic Hispanic Asian Specified Wal ked past 30 days 5991 583 426 172 282

130

Reasons Felt Threatened for Personal Safety

Reasons felt threatened

The top reason pedestrians felt threatened while walking was due to motorists (62%). More than one-third of pedestrians also reported feeling threatened for their personal safety because of dogs or other animals (36%) or because of the potential for crime (36%). More than one-quarter (28%) felt threatened by uneven walkways or roadways. [Figure 40-A]

Top reasons felt threatened, by gender, age

There were few differences between males and females for feeling threatened for their personal safety while walking, though females were more likely to have felt threatened by the potential for crime (42%) than were males (30%).

Pedestrians 21 to 45 (70%) were more concerned about the threat of motorists than were younger or older pedestrians. Pedestrians under 21 (44%) were more concerned about dogs or other animals than were pedestrians over 21. [Figures 40-B,C]

Top reasons felt threatened, by urbanicity

The threat of motorists was commonly shared by urban, suburban, and rural pedestrians. Suburban pedestrians who felt threatened for their personal safety while walking were more likely to say it was because of the potential for crime (50%) than were those from urban (28%) or rural (33%) areas. [Figure 40-D]

131

Reasons Felt Threatened for Personal Safety (Continued)

Top reasons felt threatened, by race/ethnicity

Black, non-Hispanic pedestrians (43%) were more likely to report that uneven walkways or surfaces was a reason for feeling threatened for their personal safety while walking than were White non-Hispanic (27%) pedestrians. [Figure 40-E]

Top reasons felt threatened, by household income

Pedestrians with household income levels under $30,000 were less likely (58%) than were pedestrians with incomes over $75,000 (72%) to say that the reason they felt threatened for their personal safety while walking was because of motorists. Pedestrians with incomes under $30,000 were more likely to say that they felt threatened by the potential for crime and threatened by dogs or other animals than were those with income levels of $30,000 or more. [Figure 40-F]

132

FIGURE 40: REASONS FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY

62%

36% 36% 28%

8% 7% 2% 1%

REASONS FELT THREATENED A

Motorists Dogs or other animals

Potential for crime

Uneven walkways/ roadway

Too much bicycle or pedestrians

Other Not enough/ lack of room to walk

Obstacles blocking path

Q88a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked; n= 433]

B

30%28%

63%

36% 36% 28%

61%

42%

M otorists Uneven walkways or roadway


Potential for crime

TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY GENDER

Male Female

Q88a: Did you feel threatened for your personal safety because of any of the following…? [Base: Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked]

M otorists Uneven walkways or roadway


Potential for crime

TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY AGE C 16-20

46-64 30-45

21-29

39% 44%

24%

58%

27%

71%

39%35% 31%

69%

34% 32% 30%

56%

40%39%

20%

37%

19%

46%

65+


D TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY URBANICITY

Suburban Rural Urban

62% 64% 61%

32% 34%

50%

24% 37%

28% 31% 33% 40%

M otorists Uneven walkways or Dogs o r other Potential for crime surfaces animals


133

FIGURE 40: REASONS FELT THREATENED FOR PERSONAL SAFETY (continued)

TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

27%

65%

32% 32%

6%

43%

73%

40% 36%

3%

M otorists Uneven walkways or

surfaces


Potential for crime


traffic

E

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic


TOP REASONS FELT THREATENED, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

F

9%

43% 32%

57% 43%

12%

50% 49% 59%

29% 27%

7%

32%32%

68% 60%

24% 29% 7%

29%

5% 22% 24%

31%

72%

M otorists Uneven walkways or

surfaces


Potential for crime


traffic

$50K-$75K <$15K

$15K-$29K $75K+

$30K-$49K


**Sample bases for this page:

Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked Total433

Male157

Female276

16-2055

21-2960

30-45158

46-64111

65+ 42

Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked

Suburban

138

Urban

207

Rural

88

White Non-Hispanic

298

Black Non-Hispanic

43

Hispanic

*

Asian

*

Other Non-Specified

*

Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked <$15K

69

Household Income

$15K-$29K $30K-$49K

$50K-$74K

71 89 64 $75K+

89


134

Actions Motorist Did That Were Threatening

Actions motorists did that were threatening

Among those who reported that they felt threatened by a motorist (4% of pedestrians), the top two actions that were seen as threatening were driving too fast (41%) and driving too close to the pedestrian (35%). [Figure 41-A]

Top actions motorists did that were threatening, by age and gender

Females were more apt to say that the motorist was driving too fast (46%) than were males (34%). Due to small sample sizes, there were no distinguishable differences by age group in reasons for feeling threatened by motorists. [Figure 41-B]

135

FIGURE 41: ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING

A ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING

41% 35%

9% 7% 6% 6% 5% 1% 1%

11%

Too fast Drove close/ Congestion/ Rude motorist Driver didn't Don't obey Presence of Cut me off Aggressive/ Other near miss narow street see me traffic laws motorist careless

treatening drivers


B

Female Male

15% 4%

34%39%

4%

46%

31%

9%

TOP ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING, BY GENDER

Drove close/ near miss

Too fast Congestion/ narrow street

Rude motorists

9% 11%

36% 31%

47%

9%

27%

10% 8% 2%

35% 42%

TOP ACTIONS MOTORISTS DID THAT WERE THREATENING, BY AGE

Drove close/ near miss

Too fast Congestion/ narrow street

Rude motorists

30-45 21-29

46-64

C

Q88b: What did motorists do to make you feel threatened? [Base: Q88b: What did motorists do to make you feel threatened? [Base: Felt threatened by motorist] Felt threatened by motorist]

**Sample bases for this page: Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

Felt threatened for personal safety last time walked 270 101 169 * 42 109 61 *


136

Walking in the Dark

Percent walking in the dark or near-dark, by total, gender, age

Overall, 22 percent of pedestrians reported walking in the dark or near-dark for part of their most recent walk. Males (25%) were more likely than females (20%) to have walked in the dark. The proportion walking in the dark decreased with age, with 32 percent of pedestrians 16 to 20 walking in the dark, and just 9 percent of pedestrians over 64 walking in the dark on their most recent walk. [Figure 42-A]

Percent walking in the dark or near-dark, by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

Pedestrians in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) were more likely to walk in the dark or near-dark than were those in other parts of the country. Those in NHTSA Regions 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) (15%) and 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (14%) were least likely to walk in the dark. There were no differences in propensity to walk in the dark by urbanicity. [Figure 42-B]

Percent walking in the dark or near-dark, by race/ethnicity

White non-Hispanic (21%) and Asian (19%) pedestrians were less likely to walk in the dark than were Black non-Hispanic pedestrians (27%) and pedestrians from other racial groups (29%). [Figure 42-C]

Percent walking in the dark or near-dark, by household income

There were no differences by income level in propensity to walk in the dark or near-dark. [Figure 42-D]

137

Walking in the Dark (Continued)

Percent walking in the dark or near-dark, by walking frequency

There were no differences by walking frequency in propensity to walk in the dark or near-dark. [Figure 42-E]

Proportion of the time spent walking in the dark or near-dark

In the past year, 44 percent of pedestrians spent at least some time walking in the dark or near-dark, with 10 percent saying that more than half of their walking was done when it was dark or near dark and 16 percent saying about half was in the dark or near-dark in the past year. [Figure 42-F]

138

FIGURE 42: WALKING IN THE DARK

A PERCENT WALKING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY GENDER AND AGE

32% 31%

22% 25%

20% 23%

19%

9%


GENDER AGE

B PERCENT WALKING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY

30%

15%

19% 19%

26%

20%

25% 26% 24%

14%

24% 21%

23%

1 3 4 5 6 72 8 9 10 Sub. Urb. Rural NHTSA Region

Q89: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you walked, Q89: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you walked, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your walk? [Base: was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your walk? [Base: Walked Walked past 30 days] past 30 days]

21% 27% 25%

19%

29%

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic


C PERCENT WALKING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

Q89: You may have already mentioned this but, the last time you walked, was it dark or near-dark outside for any part of your walk? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

PERCENT WALKING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

22% 25% 21% 21% 24%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

D

Household Income


139

FIGURE 42: WALKING IN THE DARK (continued)

21% 22% 24%

Heavy Medium Light

E PERCENT WALKING IN DARK OR NEAR-DARK, BY WALKING FREQUENCY


F PROPORTION OF THE TIME SPENT WALKING

IN THE DARK OR NEAR DARK

44% 30% 26%

18% 16%

6% 4%

Nearly all More than About half Some Almost None half none

Q89a: During the past year, how much of your walking was done when it was dark or nearly dark outside? [Base: Walked past 30 days]


Walked past 30 days Total7585

Male3084

Female4501

16-20601

21-291076

30-452579

46-642293

65+996

Suburban2193

Urban3675

Rural 1717

NHTSA Region

Walked past 30 days 1

423 2

677 3

832 4

1287 5

1334 6

854 7

380 8

295 9

1077 10 426

White Non-

Hispanic

Black Non-

Hispanic Hispanic Asian

Other Non-

Specified <$15K

Household Income

$15K-$29K

$30K-$49K

$50K-$74K $75K+

Walked past 30 days 5991 583 426 172 282 742 1155 1719 1303 1731

Heavy Medium Light Walked past 30 days 3098 2213 2206

140

Making Self Visible While Walking in the Dark

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by total, gender, age

Among those who spent at least some time walking in the dark or near-dark in the past year, nearly 4 in 10 (39%) made efforts to make themselves more visible to motorists. Females (44%) were more likely to do something to make themselves more visible than were males (34%). Attempts to make oneself more visible to motorists generally increased with age, with nearly 1 out of 3 pedestrians 16 to 20 (29%) making an effort, and 45 percent of those 46 to 64 attempting to make themselves more visible. [Figure 43-A]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by race/ethnicity

Asian (24%) pedestrians were least likely to try to make themselves visible in the dark (other races/ethnicities ranged from 31% to 41%). [Figure 43-B]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by household income

There were no differences across income categories with regards to pedestrians making themselves more visible to motorists when walking in the dark. [Figure 43-C]

Percent who tried to make themselves more visible to motorists, by walking frequency

Those walking least often (light frequency pedestrians) (36%) were about as likely to try to make themselves more visible to motorists when walking after dark as were those walking most often (heavy frequency pedestrians) (39%). [Figure 43-D]

141

Making Self Visible While Walking in the Dark (Continued)

Methods of making selves more visible to motorists

Overall, the methods used by pedestrians to make themselves more visible after dark included wearing light colored clothing (64%), wearing fluorescent or reflective clothing (28%) or bringing something visible with them on the walk (such as a flashlight or a dog with a reflective collar) (18%). Just 5 percent said they walk only in well-lit areas as a way to make themselves more visible to motorists. [Figure 43-E]

Top methods of making selves more visible to motorists by age, gender, and walking frequency

Females were more likely to bring something visible with them on their walk to make themselves more visible to motorists (20%) than were males (15%), but males and females were about equally likely to wear light colored or reflective clothing. Pedestrians of all ages were roughly equally likely to wear light colored or reflective clothing. Pedestrians 46 to 64 (24%) were more likely to bring along something visible than were pedestrians under 21 (7%).

Light-frequency pedestrians were less likely to wear special clothing with reflectors (22%) than were higher frequency pedestrians. [Figures 43-F,G,H]

142

FIGURE 43: MAKING SELF VISIBLE WHILE WALKING IN THE DARK

34% 29%


A PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY GENDER AND AGE

44% 45% 39% 40% 41%

36%

GENDER AGE

Q89b: When you walk after dark, do you do anything to make yourself more visible to motorists? [Base: At least some of walking was done in dark or near-dark]

B PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

40% 41% 41%

31% 24%

White Non- Black Non- Hispanic Asian Other non-Hispanic Hispanic specified


C PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

41% 41% 38% 38% 37%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

Household Income


D PERCENT WHO TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY WALKING FREQUENCY

39% 40% 36%

Heavy Medium Light


143

FIGURE 43: MAKING SELF VISIBLE WHILE WALKING IN THE DARK (continued)

64%

28%

18%

5% 2%

Wear light color clothing

Flourescent/ refl. clo thing

Bring something visible

Walk only in well-lit areas

Stay o n sidewalk

METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS

E

Q90: What do you do to make yourself more visible when walking after dark? [Base: Do something when walking after dark to make self more visible]

63%

29%

15% 26%

64%

20%

Wear light co lor clo thing Flourescent/reflective clo thing

Bring something visible

F METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY GENDER

Male

Female


METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY AGE

7%

25%

68%

28%

14%

68%

19%

31%

61%

25%24%

64%

21%19%

61%

Wear light co lor clo thing Bring something visible Flourescent/reflective clo thing

G

16-20 30-45

21-29 46-64

65+


63%

29% 18%

65%

30%

16%

65%

22% 21%

Wear light co lor clo thing Flourescent/reflective clo thing

Bring something visible

H

Heavy Light

Medium

METHODS OF MAKING SELVES MORE VISIBLE TO MOTORISTS, BY WALKING FREQUENCY


Sample bases for this page: White Non- Black Non-

Hispanic Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Hispanic At least some of walking was done in 3211 1504 1707 394 593 1222 808 183 2471 260

dark or near-dark


Hispanic Asian specified <$15K $29K $49K $74K $75K+ Heavy Medium Light At least some of walking was done in 211 79 142 330 495 732 533 782 1520 882 789

dark or near-dark

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Heavy Medium Light Do somethi ng when walking after dark 1246 486 760 114 216 482 360 73 579 370 290

to make self more visi ble

144


145

Chapter 4: Walking Habits

This section provides information on walking habits and specifically covers the following topics:

• Availability and use of sidewalks, • Reasons for not using sidewalks, • Walking on streets and sidewalks, and • Walking-related injuries.

146

Availability and Use of Sidewalks

Availability of sidewalks, by total and gender, age

Nearly 7 out of 10 (68%) pedestrians reported that sidewalks or paths are available in the areas where they walk. Reporting the availability of sidewalks and paths diminished with age, with 77 percent of pedestrians under 30 reporting them and just 59 percent of those over 64 doing the same. [Figure 44-A]

Availability of sidewalks, by NHTSA Region

Pedestrians in NHTSA Regions 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (82%) and 2 (NJ, NY) (77%) were most likely to report sidewalks or paths being available in the areas where they walk. Those in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (54%) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (59%) were least likely to report the availability of sidewalks or paths. [Figure 44-B]

Frequency of using sidewalks

Among pedestrians who reported that sidewalks or paths were available in the areas they walked, one-third (34%) said they used sidewalks or paths every time they walked. An additional 45 percent reported using them most of the time. The remainder (21%) used sidewalks or paths only some of the time or less. [Figure 44-C]

Frequency of using sidewalks, by urbanicity

Suburban pedestrians were more likely to use sidewalks or paths all or most of the time (85%) than were pedestrians living in urban (78%) or rural areas (66%). [Figure 44-D]

Frequency of using sidewalks, by NHTSA Region

Frequent use of sidewalks or paths (all or most of the time) range from 87 percent of pedestrians in NHTSA Region 9 (87%), to 71 percent in NHTSA Regions 4 and 6. [Figure 44-E]

147

FIGURE 44: AVAILABILITY AND USE OF SIDEWALKS

A AVAILABILITY OF SIDEWALKS, BY GENDER AND AGE

77% 77% 70% 69% 68% 66% 63%

59%

TOTAL Male Female 16-20 21-29

GENDER AGE

30-45 46-64 65+

Q92: Are sidewalks or paths available in the areas that you walk? [Base: Total population]

B

67% 73%73%67%

59% 70%

54%

68% 77%

82%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

AVAILABILITY OF SIDEWALKS, BY NHTSA REGION

NHTSA Region

Q92: Are sidewalks or paths available in the areas that you walk? [Base: Total population]

C FREQUENCY OF USING SIDEWALKS

45%

34%

15%

4% 2%

Every Time Most of the Some of the Hardly ever Never time time

Q92a: Do you use sidewalks or paths…? [Base: Walkers who have sidewalks or paths available where walk]

148

FIGURE 44: AVAILABILITY AND USE OF SIDEWALKS (continued)

D FREQUENCY OF USING SIDEWALKS, BY URBANICITY


85%

43%

78%

46%

66%

45%

21% 42%32%


E FREQUENCY OF USING SIDEWALKS,

BY NHTSA REGION Every time Most of the time

84% 87%81%

4 5%

4 3 %

81%

4 3 % 51%

83%

4 7%

79%

4 7%

75%

4 4 %

73% 71%

4 3 %

71%

3 9 % 50 %

3 2 % 2 8 % 3 7%

2 8 % 3 4 % 3 2 % 4 0 % 2 9 %3 4 % 3 9 %

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NHTSA Region Q92a: Do you use sidewalks or paths…? [Base: Walkers who have Q92a: Do you use sidewalks or paths…? [Base: Walkers who have

sidewalks or paths available where walk] sidewalks or paths available where walk]

**Sample bases for this page:

Total Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ Total population 9616 3936 5680 724 1309 3132 2914 1479

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total population 507 843 1027 1754 1681 1149 498 358 1316 483

Total Urban Rural Suburban Walkers who have sidewalks or paths 5241 2573 831 1837 available where walk

NHTSA Region

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Walkers who have sidewalks or paths 285 524 578 709 947 511 262 209 904 312 available where walk

149

Reasons for Not Using Sidewalks

Reasons for not using sidewalks

Pedestrians gave a variety of reasons for choosing not to use sidewalks or paths when they are available. The most commonly cited reason is lack of convenience (36%), meaning they were either not available or did not go where the pedestrian wanted to go. [Figure 45-A]

Top reasons for not using sidewalks, by walking frequency

Heavy-frequency pedestrians were less likely to be dissuaded to use a sidewalk or path by the lack of convenience (29%) than were medium- (37%) or light-frequency (44%) pedestrians. [Figure 45-B]

150

FIGURE 45: REASONS FOR NOT USING SIDEWALKS

A REASONS FOR NOT USING SIDEWALKS

4% 6% 2%

17% 10%

6% 13%

36%

Not convenient Prefer another Don't feel safe Too crowded Prefer softer surface Don't do it Other Not in good repair area/habit/just don't much/don't want to

use

Q93: What is the main reason that you choose not to use these sidewalks or paths? [Base: Never/hardly ever use sidewalks – but are available]

29%

10% 9% 10% 6%

37%

16% 13%

1% 8%

44%

14% 10%

6% 5%

REASONS FOR NOT USING SIDEWALKS, BY WALKING FREQUENCY

Sidewalk lane/ paths no t convenient

Prefer another area/habit just do n't use

Not in good repair

Too crowded with bicycles or peds.

Prefer softer surface

B

Medium Light Heavy

Q93: What is the main reason that you choose not to use these sidewalks or paths? [Base: Never/hardly ever use sidewalks – but are available]


Total Heavy Medium Light Never/hardly ever use sidewalks, but are available 302 125 77 97

151

Walking on Streets and Sidewalks

Direction of walking in street, by total, gender, age

Six in ten (60%) pedestrians reported that they typically walk facing traffic when walking in the street, that is, walking against the direction of the traffic. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said they walk with traffic. Male and female pedestrians were equally likely to walk against traffic. Pedestrians 45 to 64 (67%) were more apt to walk against traffic than were younger or older pedestrians. [Figure 46-A]

Direction of walking in street, by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

Pedestrians in NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (69%) were more likely than those in other parts of the country to report walking against traffic when walking in the street, and those in NHTSA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (45%) were least likely to walk against traffic. [Figure 46-B]

Direction of walking in street, by race/ethnicity, household income

White, non-Hispanic pedestrians were more likely to walk against traffic (63%) than were Black, non-Hispanic (58%), Hispanic (43%), and Asian (32%) pedestrians.

Pedestrians in the upper income bracket of $75,000 or more were more likely to walk against traffic (64%) than were those earning $29,000 or less (55%). [Figures 46-C,D]

152

Walking on Streets and Sidewalks (Continued)

Direction of walking on sidewalk, by total, gender, age

When walking on the sidewalk, pedestrians were split in the direction they walk, with 30 percent walking against traffic and 33 percent walking with traffic. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said it varies, and an additional 12 percent said they never walk on sidewalks.

Female pedestrians (32%) were more likely to walk against traffic when walking on the sidewalk than were male pedestrians (28%). The proportion walking in the same direction as traffic when on a sidewalk declined with age, with 44 percent of those 16 to 20 walking with traffic, and 16 percent of those 65 or older doing the same. [Figure 46-E]

Direction of walking on sidewalk, by urbanicity

Pedestrians living in rural areas (27%) were less likely to walk with traffic when walking on sidewalks than those in urban (35%) and suburban (34%) areas. Rural area pedestrians were more likely to say they never walk on sidewalks (21%) than their urban and suburban counterparts. [Figure 46-F]

Direction of walking on sidewalk, by race/ethnicity, household income

Black non-Hispanic pedestrians (46%) were more likely to walk against traffic when walking on sidewalks than were White, non-Hispanic (28%) or Hispanic (34%) pedestrians. Propensity to walk against traffic while on a sidewalk decreases as incomes rise, with 37 percent of those with household incomes under $15,000 walking against traffic, decreasing to 28 percent among those with incomes $75,000 and above. [Figures 46-G,H]

153

FIGURE 46: WALKING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS

A DIRECTION OF WALKING IN STREET, BY GENDER AND AGE

Against traffic Varies/depends NA/Never walk With traffic

67% 60% 61% 60% 60% 56% 57%

54%

37% 28% 28% 23% 23% 23% 22%

15%8%11% 7%10% 10% 9% 11% 6%7% 6% 9% 7% 6%7% 6%3%


Q94: When walking in the street do you typically walk…? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

63% 63% 62% 63% 57%

45%

60% 61% 68%

52% 52% 62%

69%

26% 18% 24%21%

35% 26%22% 22% 20% 19% 20% 23% 24%

10% 6% 5%

9%8%7%4%7% 12% 8% 4% 5% 6% 9% 13%

8%9%11%

6% 12%

10% 8% 12% 9% 11% 10%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburban

DIRECTION OF WALKING IN STREET, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY B Against traffic With traffic NA/Never walk

Varies/depends

NHTSA Region

Q94: When walking in the street do you typically walk…? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

63% 56%

21% 25% 33%

41%

26%

58%

43% 32%

6% 7% 12% 16% 9%10% 10% 11% 8% 10%

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic


DIRECTION OF WALKING IN STREET, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

C

With traffic NA/Never walk Varies/depends Against traffic

56% 64%

55% 62% 61%

23% 22% 21% 26% 25%

8% 8% 7% 7% 5% 10% 11% 9% 10% 8%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

DIRECTION OF WALKING IN STREET, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

D

With traffic NA/Never walk Varies/depends

Household Income

Against traffic

Q94: When walking in the street do you typically walk…? [Base: Q94: When walking in the street do you typically walk…? [Base: Walked past 30 days] Walked past 30 days]

154

FIGURE 46: WALKING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS (continued) E DIRECTION OF WALKING ON SIDEWALK, BY GENDER AND AGE

Against traffic Varies/depends With traffic NA/Never walk

44% 39% 39% 36% 33% 34% 34% 30% 32% 32% 33% 28% 31% 28% 25%26% 22% 25% 23% 23% 23% 21% 19% 16% 15% 16%

12% 13% 10% 9%6% 5%


Q95: When walking on the sidewalk do you typically walk…? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

F DIRECTION OF WALKING ON SIDEWALK, BY URBANICITY

Against traffic Varies/depends NA/Never walk With traffic

35% 34%30% 27%22% 31% 27% 30% 20% 21%

12% 6%



155

FIGURE 46: WALKING ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS (continued)

G DIRECTION OF WALKING ON SIDEWALK, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

Against traffic With traffic

Varies/depends NA/Never walk

46% 40%

34% 36% 37% 28% 32% 33% 30% 30%

25% 24% 19% 18% 13%

17% 11%

8%6% 5%



H DIRECTION OF WALKING ON SIDEWALK, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Varies/depends NA/Never walk With traffic

32% 33% 33% 35% 35%

Against traffic

37% 33% 30% 29% 28% 25%22% 23%22% 20%

13% 11%10% 10% 10%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

Household Income




Male3084

Female4501

16-20601

21-291076

30-452579

46-642293

65+ Urban996 3675

Rural1717

Suburban 2193

NHTSA Region

Walked past 30 days 1

423 2

677 3

832 4

1287 5

1334 6

854 7380

8 295

91077

10 426

Household Income

Walked past 30 days

White Non-

Hispanic 5991

Black Non-Hispanic

583 Hispanic

426 Asian 172

Other non-

specified 282

<$15K 742

$15K-$29K 1155

$30K-$49K 1719

$50K-$74K

1303

$75K+

1731

156


157

Walking-Related Injuries

Percent injured while walking, by total and walking frequency

Just 2 percent of pedestrians 16 and older reported being injured in the past two years while walking. Heavy-frequency pedestrians were equally likely to experience an injury while walking (2%) as were medium- (2%) and light-frequency (2%) pedestrians. [Figure 47-A]

Percent injured while walking, by gender, age

Male and female pedestrians were equally likely to be injured while walking in the past two years. Pedestrians 16 to 20 were twice as likely to have been injured (4%) than were those 21 or older (2%). [Figure 47-B]

Percent injured while walking, by race/ethnicity, household income

Non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic pedestrians were roughly equally likely to have been injured while walking in the past two years. Those with household incomes under $15,000 were more likely to be injured (4%) than were those with higher incomes (2%). [Figures 47-C,D]

Projected number of pedestrians injured/hit by motor vehicle in past two years, by total and walking frequency

Nearly 3.6 million pedestrians were injured while walking in the past two years. An estimated 473,000 were injured as a result of being hit by a motor vehicle. Heavy-frequency pedestrians accounted for more than 1.6 million injuries and 195,000 motor vehicle related injuries. Light-frequency pedestrians experienced 856,000 injuries in the past two years, with just over 200,000 being hit by a motor vehicle. [Figure 47-E]

Projected number of pedestrians injured/hit by motor vehicle in past 2 years, by gender

While female pedestrians had a greater number of injuries while walking than their male counterparts in the past two years (2 million versus 1.5 million), male pedestrians had more injuries caused by being hit by a motor vehicle while walking (270,000 hit by motor vehicles for male pedestrians, compared to 203,000 female pedestrians). [Figure 47-F]

158

FIGURE 47: WALKING-RELATED INJURIES

A PERCENT INJURED WHILE WALKING,

BY TOTAL AND WALKING FREQUENCY

2% 2% 2% 2%


B PERCENT INJURED WHILE WALKING,

BY GENDER AND AGE

4%

2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+

GENDER AGE Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. [Base: Walked past 30 days] professional. [Base: Walked past 30 days]

PERCENT INJURED WHILE WALKING, BY RACE/ETHNICITY

2% 3%

2%

5% 4%

White Non-Hispanic

Black Non-Hispanic

Hispanic Asian Other non-specified

C

4%

2% 2% 2% 2%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+ Household Income

PERCENT INJURED WHILE WALKING, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME

D

Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. [Base: Walked past 30 days] professional. [Base: Walked past 30 days]

159

FIGURE 47: WALKING-RELATED INJURIES (continued)

E PROJECTED NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS INJURED/HIT BY MOTOR VEHICLE, BY WALKING FREQUENCY (IN THOUSANDS)

TOTAL Heavy Medium Light

Hit by Injured Motor Vehicle

1,636

1,043 856 473

195 209 57

Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. Q97: Was this injury a result of being hit by a motor vehicle? [Base: Walked past 30 days]

F PROJECTED NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS INJURED/HIT BY MOTOR VEHICLE IN PAST 2 YEARS, BY GENDER

Hit by Motor

Injured 2,036

Vehicle

1,539

270 203

Male Female

Q96: In the past two years, were you ever injured while you were walking? Only count injuries that required attention by a medical professional. Q97: Was this injury a result of being hit by a motor vehicle? [Base: Walked past 30 days]



Heavy3098

Medium2213

Light2206

Male3084

Female4501

16-20601

21-291076

30-452579

46-642293

65+ 996

Walked past 30 days

White Non-

Hispanic 5991

Black Non-

Hispanic 583

Hispanic 426

Asian 172

Other Non-

Specified 282

<$15K 742

Household Income

$15K-$29K

$30K-$49K

$50K-$74K

1155 1719 1303 $75K+ 1731

160


161

Chapter 5: Pedestrian Satisfaction

This section provides information about the satisfaction of pedestrians with how their communities are designed for walking. Specifically, it covers the following topics:

• Satisfaction with communities, • Desire for changes in community, and • Opinions on walking.

162

Satisfaction With Community

Satisfaction with how community is designed for walking, by pedestrian status

Among people 16 or older, nearly 3 in 4 (73%) expressed satisfaction with how their communities are designed for making walking safe. Slightly over 4 in 10 (41%) were very satisfied. Pedestrians were more satisfied with their communities (75% very or somewhat satisfied) than were nonpedestrians (67%). [Figure 48-A]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for walking, by gender, age

Males and females were roughly equally satisfied with how their communities are designed for making walking safe. Satisfaction varied little with age, though the oldest (65+) and youngest (16 to 20) people were more likely to be satisfied (77%) than those 21 to 64 (72% on average). [Figure 48-B]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for walking, by race/ethnicity

People of Asian descent tended to be more satisfied with how their communities are designed for making walking safe (82% very or somewhat satisfied) than were White non-Hispanic (73%) and Black non-Hispanic (73%) people. [Figure 48-C]

Satisfaction with how community is designed for walking, by household income

Satisfaction with how their communities are designed for walking did not differ by household income level. [Figure 48-D]

Satisfaction with how community is designed, by NHTSA Region, urbanicity

Satisfaction with how their community is designed for making walking safe varied across NHTSA Regions. About 8 of 10 people in NHTSA Regions 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) (81% very or somewhat satisfied), 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) (79%), 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) (78%), and 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) (79%) were satisfied, while fewer than 7 of 10 in NHTSA Regions 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN) (69%) and 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) (67%) were satisfied.

Those living in suburban areas were more likely to be satisfied with how their communities are designed for walking (77%) than were those in urban (72%) or rural (71%) areas. [Figure 48-E]

163

FIGURE 48: SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNITY

A PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR WALKING, BY PEDESTRIAN STATUS Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

73% 75% 67%

41% 42% 37%

32% 33% 30%

Total Pedestrians Non-pedestrians

Q98: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making walking safe?

31% 33% 33% 32%

47% 41% 39% 43% 39% 41% 42%

B PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR WALKING, BY GENDER AND AGE

Somewhat satisfied Very satisfied

75% 77% 77%

33%

72%

34%

72% 72% 73% 30%

Male Female 16-20 21-29 30-45 46-64 65+ GENDER AGE



C PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR WALKING, BY RACE/ETHNICITY Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

82%

34% 31%

32% 36% 28%

41% 39% 51% 43% 40%

73% 73% 77% 68%

<$15K $15K-$29K $30K-$49K $50K-$74K $75K+

Household Income

D PERCENT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR WALKING, BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied 73% 73% 74% 73% 73%

34% 33% 31% 31%

42% 41% 42% 39%39%

34%

Q98: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for Q98: How satisfied are you with how your local community is designed for making walking safe? making walking safe?

164

FIGURE 48: SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNITY (continued)

PERCENT VERY AND SOMEWHAT SATISFIED WITH HOW COMMUNITY IS DESIGNED FOR WALKING, E BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

79% 78% 79% 81% 77%

32% 32% 32% 31% 32%

43%39% 41% 47% 45%46%47%36%44% 39% 37%39% 38%

70% 71% 73% 69% 75%

32%

72% 71%

34%

67% 31% 31%

34% 34% 32% 34%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburban NHTSA Region



Total Pedestri Non- 16-Population Tota l

9561 ans

7548 pedestrians

2013 Male

3910 Female

5651 20

722 21-29

1303 30-45 46-64

3115 2901 65+

1463

Household Income

White Black Other Total Non- Non- Non- $15K- $30K- $50K-

Populati on Hispanic 7562

Hispanic Hispanic 755 521

Asian 206

Specified 349

<$15K 1052

$29K 1519

$49K 2127

$74K 1617

$75K+ 1996

NHTSA Regi on Total

Population

1502

2 837

31019

41743

51676

61141

7495

8356

91312

10480

Urban4628

Rural2239

Suburban 2694

165

Desire for Changes in Community

Desire for changes in community, by total, NHTSA Region and urbanicity

Regardless of how satisfied they were with the way their communities are designed for walking safety, about one-third of people 16 or older (34%) would like to see some changes made in their community for pedestrians. Across NHTSA Regions, this desire ranged from 28 percent wanting to see changes in NHTSA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA) to 39 percent wanting changes in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). Those living in urban (35%) and suburban (35%) areas were more likely to desire change than were those in rural (30%) areas. [Figure 49-A]

Changes desired in community

The change most desired in the community is to increase the number of sidewalks (42%). Smaller numbers would like to see more lights (17%), improved facilities (12%), more paths and trails (10%), or more crosswalks (8%). [Figure 49-B]

Top 3 changes desired in community, by walking frequency

Light-frequency pedestrians were more interested in adding sidewalks (47%) than were medium- (41%) and heavy-frequency (38%) pedestrians. [Figure 49-C]

Top 3 changes desired in community, by NHTSA Region

The desire to add sidewalks ranged from a low of 26 percent in NHTSA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV) to a high of 58 percent in NHTSA Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). The recommendation for more lights ranged from a low of 10 percent in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE) to a high of 23 percent in NHTSA Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV). The desire for improved facilities was highest in NHTSA Region 7 (IA, KS, MS, NE) (31%). [Figure 49-D]

166

FIGURE 49: DESIRE FOR CHANGES IN COMMUNITY

A PERCENT DESIRE CHANGE IN COMMUNITY, BY NHTSA REGION AND URBANICITY

38% 38% 39% 34% 35% 35%34% 33% 31% 31% 30% 29% 29% 28%

Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Urban Rural Suburb.

NHTSA Region

Q99: Are there any changes you would like made in your community for pedestrians?

B

42%

17% 12% 10% 8% 7% 6% 5% 3%

14%

More sidew alks

More lights Impr. facilities More paths/trails

More crossw alks

Traff ic signals/signs

Law enforcement

Improve safety

Change law s Other

CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY

Q100: What changes would you like to see made in your community? [Base: Desire changes in community for pedestrians]

167

FIGURE 49: DESIRE FOR CHANGES IN COMMUNITY (continued)

C TOP 3 CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY, BY WALKING FREQUENCY

More sidewalks Improve facilities More lights

47% 41% 38%

26% 23% 20% 13% 13% 13%

Heavy Medium Light

D TOP 3 CHANGES DESIRED IN COMMUNITY, BY NHTSA REGION

More sidewalks Improve facilities More lights

55% 58% 52% 50%

41% 38% 35% 32% 31%31% 26%23% 19% 19%

16% 17%14% 17% 17% 16% 14% 15%14%14% 13% 14%14% 9% 8% 10%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region

Q100: What changes would you like to see made in your community? Q100: What changes would you like to see made in your community? [Base: Desire changes in community for pedestrians] [Base: Desire changes in community for pedestrians]


NHTSA Region

Total population Total9561

1502

2837

31019

4 1743

51676

61141

7495

8356

9 1312

10 480

Urban 4628

Rural 2239

Suburban 2694

Desire changes in community for pedestrians Total

3352 Heavy1129

Medium776

Light780

1188

2318

3346

4679

NHTSA Region

5 6521 452

7 149

8 111

9 437

10 151

168


169

Opinions on Walking

Opinions on walking

Regardless of whether they walked during the summer months, more than 8 in 10 people 16 or older (82%) strongly agreed that walking was a great form of exercise for them (94% strongly or somewhat agree). Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) strongly or somewhat agreed that walking is an enjoyable activity to do in a group, and 79 percent agreed that it is an enjoyable activity to do alone. Nearly 8 in 10 (77%) said that they would like to be walking more than they are now, but only one-half (50%) felt that walking is a great form of transportation in the area where they live. [Figure 50-A]

Opinions on walking, by gender

Females were more likely than males to agree that walking is a great form of exercise for them (96% compared to 92%), that they would like to walk more than they are now (81% compared to 71%) and that walking is an enjoyable activity to do in a group (91% compared to 85%). [Figure 50-B]

Opinions on walking, by age

People 65 or older (82%) are less likely to agree that walking is an enjoyable activity to do in a group as compared to those under 65 (average agreement of 90%). Agreement that walking is a great form of transportation in the area they live generally decreases with age, from a high of 59 percent among 16- to 20-year-olds to 47 percent among those 46 or older. Those under age 30 (73% on average) are less likely to agree that walking is an enjoyable activity to do alone than are those 30 or older (82% on average). Similarly, those under 30 (72% on average) are less likely to agree that they would like to walk more now than they do as compared to those 30 or older (78% on average). [Figure 50-C]

170

Opinions on Walking (Continued)

Percent agreeing that walking is a great form of transportation in this area, by NHTSA Region

The perception that walking is a great form of transportation in their area varies by NHTSA Region, from a high agreement of 59 percent in NHTSA Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY) to a low of 42 percent in NHTSA Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN). [Figure 50-D]

171

FIGURE 50: OPINIONS ON WALKING

%Strongly Agree

53% 28% 82%

54%64%

24% 12% 26% 23%

22%

Walking is an enjoyable activity to do

in a group

Walking is a great form of exercise

for me

Walking is an enjoyable activity to do

alone

I w ould like to w alk more

than I am now

Walking is a great form

of transp. In the area

w here I live

% STRONGLY AND SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON WALKING

A

88% 94% 77%79%

50%

%Somewhat Agree

78% 50%

92% 71%

85% 91% 96% 80% 81%

51%

Walking is an enjoyable

activity to do in a group

Walking is a great form of exercise for

me

Walking is an enjoyable

activity to do alone

I w ould like to w alk more than I am

now

Walking is a great form of transp. In the area w here I

live

% AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON WALKING, BY GENDER

B

Male Female

Q101: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about walking. Q101: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about walking. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about walking. How about …? statements about walking. How about …?

79%

50% 70%

59%

92%

69%

90% 89% 93% 75% 73%

54%

81% 95% 91%

47%

79% 83% 95%

88%

47%

76%80% 91%

82%

Walking is an enjoyable activity to do in a group

Walking is a great form of exercise for me

Walking is an enjoyable activity to do alone

I w ould like to w alk more than I am now

Walking is a great form of transp. In the area w here I

live

% AGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON WALKING, BY AGE C

30-45

16-20 46-64 21-29 65+

Q101: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about walking. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about walking. How about …?

172

FIGURE 50: OPINIONS ON WALKING (continued)

D WALKING IS A GREAT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IN THIS AREA, BY NHTSA REGION

59% 56% 54% 53% 52% 52% 53% 51% 45%42%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NHTSA Region

Q101: Now, I would like to know your personal opinions about walking. Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about walking. How about …?


Total population

Total9616

Male3936

Female5680

16-20724

21-291309

30-453132

46-642914

65+ 1479

Heavy 325

Medium 553

Light 1670

Pedestrians 7548

Non-Pedestrians

2068

NHTSA Region

Total population

1507

2843

31027

4 1754

51681

61149

7498

8358

91316

10 483

173


174

Appendix A

NHTSA Regions

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has 10 regional offices that work on the agency’s mission to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce traffic-related healthcare and other economic costs. The States and Territories that make up each Region are:

Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Region 2: New Jersey, New York

Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia

Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin

Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska

Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada

Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

(NOTE: Interviewing was conducted only in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.)

175

DOTHS810972August2008

Volume II: Findings Report

Documents

Transcript of Volume II: Findings Report