League of American Bicyclists Examines Census Data. The result? More Bike Lanes = More Bicycle Commuters

The American League of Bicyclists recently released the latest analysis of United States Census data regarding the cities that are cycling to work the most. The report, complied by Attorney Ken McLeod of the American League of Bicyclists, points to a nationwide increase in the number of Americans opting to bicycle to work rather than use motorized transportation.

Bicycle Infrastructure Is Leading To More Bicyclists

The root of the analysis underscores the following larger point: If you build it, they will come. Meaning, if you build the bike lanes, the cyclists will come to the streets. The League of American Bicyclists analysis is complied from the U.S. Census Bureau’s report and is based on data collected by the American Community Survey (ACS) from 2000 to 2014, gathered from a questionnaire sent to approximately 3.5 million addresses countrywide.

The ACS is conducted annually to provide one of the largest sources of information on bicycle commuting in the country. Here are the details of the Survey:

• The ACS is geared towards workers ages 16 years and older who work outside their home.
• The questionnaire asks what the respondent’s primary method of transportation was for the previous week’s work commute.
• For commuters relying on multiple transportation methods for their daily commute, only the method used for the longest distance of their commute will count.

Bicycle Ridership Continues To Rapidly Increase

Here is the most interesting fact to come from the ACS: The number of bicycle riders across America continues to soar. Nationwide, from 2000 to 2014, bicycle commuting has grown 62 percent. Raw data shows an increase from 488,000 people in the year 2000 to 904,463 people in the year 2014. Even though the overall share of workers commuting by bike remains relatively low – approximately 1.0% of the population –this drastic increase represents the single largest percentage increase of any transportation method in the country.

The increase in bicycle commuting is largely the result of many of the country’s most prominent cities investing heavily in non-motorized travel-based projects. In Chicago and many other municipalities in Illinois there has been a massive increase in the number of bike lanes including Chicago recently completing the 100th mile of marked bike lanes in the city limits. Many of these projects are critical improvements to the infrastructure that can greatly reduce the risk of a bicycle accident or simply provide easier access to bicycling. Examples of these infrastructure improvements are as follows:

• Sidewalk modifications;
• Protected bicycle lanes; and
• Bicycle sharing programs, such as Chicago’s popular Divvy program.

Bicycling In Chicago Is Growing

Each year Chicago continues to increase its percentage of bicycle commuters. In 2014, 1.7 percent of the cities population, which translates to about 21,362 people, used bicycles as their primary method of commuting. This is a vast increase from the 1.3 percent or 16,000 of Chicago workers reporting bicycling as their primary method of commuting from 2008 to 2012.

Finally, the report listed a few notable, nationwide trends among bicyclist commuters that make for interesting bicycle facts. For example:

• Men are twice as likely than women to ride to work;
• Large cities have the highest rate of bicycle commuters;
• Cities where bike commuting is growing the fastest have all begun investing in bike lanes within recent years;
• The top 10 cities with the highest share of bike commuters are mostly college towns; and
• The city with the highest percent of residents biking to work was Davis, California with bike lanes on 95% of its major streets.

An important final takeaway is that bikes are here to stay. Contrary to the assertions of many in the “anti-bike camp,” bicycling is not a fad and a bicycle is not a child's toy. A bicycle is a vehicle. Bicycling is an integral part of the transportation plan in any modern American city and Chicago and many other municipalities throughout Illinois are at the forefront of this movement.

Chicago, Illinois Bicycle Law Attorneys

As bicycle attorneys in Illinois, we are proud to have been a part of the collective effort to support and advocate for bicycling throughout Illinois. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fight for the rights of bicyclist and adhere to our mission of providing legal advice to any bicyclists injured in a bicycle accident anywhere in Illinois at anytime.

SOURCE: "WHERE WE RIDE: Analysis of bicycle commuting in American cities." Report on American Consumer Survey data by the League of American Bicyclists. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere personal injury law firm representing victims of bicycle accidents in Illinois. The firm is based in Chicago, Illinois and represents clients throughout Illinois. If you have any questions regarding this post or have a question regarding personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-239-6787 (Office) or 312-208-7702 (Nights/Weekends). Our staff and operators are available around the clock. You can also email Mike@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Census Data Shows That Bicycle Commuting In Chicago Is Skyrocketing in Popularity

According to data collected by the U.S Census Bureau in its 2012 American Community Survey, the number of Chicago residents commuting to work by bicycle increased by 13.7% between 2011 and 2012. In 2012, 19,147 Chicago residents, comprising 1.6% of all commuters, relied upon bicycles as their primary mode of transportation to and from work. In 2011, only 1.4% of Chicago residents commuted to work via bicycle. This data was reported in an excellent story by Ted Cox of DNAInfo.com.

The Census warned that its survey results may underestimate the number of Chicago bicyclists commuting to work due to the small sample size of the survey. In addition, bicyclists complained that the survey only allowed participants to check one mode of transportation for their commute, so individuals who bike to and from public transportation were recorded as mass transit commuters though they rely upon bicycling as a vital part of their commute.

City Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein credits the Divvy bike-sharing program with increasing the number of bicycle commuters in the city. Commissioner Klein stated, "The bike-sharing program is really mainstreaming biking in Chicago. It changes the way cars, bikes, and pedestrians interact." While bicycle commuting is increasing, current numbers are nowhere near Commissioner Klein's goal of 5%. The continued completion of a 500 mile bikeway network under Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Bike 2015 Plan should result in additional increases in bicycle commuters, as the plan aims to install at least one bikeway within a half mile of every Chicago resident.

As we noted in our May 16, 2013 post, Chicago is currently the top ranking "bikeable" large Midwestern city and is the 10th most bikeable large city nationally. As Chicago becomes more bike-friendly, City officials have taken a number of steps to increase bicycling safety, including adding more protected bike lanes, installing stickers in rear cab windows warning against opening doors into bicycle traffic, and increasing the fines for dooring bicyclists. The Illinois Bicycle Attorneys at Keating Law Offices hope to see further increases in bicycle commuting as the City continues to make bicycling in Chicago more accessible, easier, and safer. As the numbers of bicyclists increa, it is important that not just bicyclists but motorist be educated about bicyclists' rights and the importance of all vehicles "sharing the road."

Keating Law Offices is the premiere law firm handling bicycle-related cases in Illinois. The firm is committed to the representation of bicyclists who have been injured as a result of the negligence of others. If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.