Study: Walking and Cycling Rates Haven't Changed Much Since 2001

New analysis of National Household Travel Survey data shows that the United States has a long way to go to overcome the dominance of the automobile for daily travel.

1 minute read

January 7, 2020, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York Street

Getting more Americans to walk and bike is like swimming against the stream. | Corn Fed Chicks / Wikimedia Commons

A new study published by the Journal of Transport & Health documents changes in walking and cycling for daily travel among U.S. residents between 2001 and 2017. The study, published in the March 2020 volume of the journal, uses National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data to examine the extent to which rates of walking and cycling have changed along demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic lines.

According to the abstract and highlights from the study, the findings of the analysis include the finding that slightly more Americans are walking every day and cycling stayed steady. "There was substantial demographic, socioeconomic, and spatial variation for each year and over time," according to the post.

The lack of progress in substantially changing the numbers of walkers and bikers, however, inspires the author of the study to call on government officials to invest more in bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

Monday, January 6, 2020 in Journal of Transport & Health via ScienceDirect

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Man in teal shirt opening door to white microtransit shuttle with cactus graphics and making inviting gesture toward the camera.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps

New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

June 13 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Group of people at table set ouf with picnic food on street during a neighborhood block party.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors

A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

June 13 - The Kansas City Star

Crowd gathered with protest signs on April 5, 2025 on steps of Minnesota state capitol protesting Trump cuts to social security and other federal programs.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us

Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

June 13 - Shelterforce Magazine