Immigrants Twice as Likely to Bike

New research shows that recent immigrants are twice as likely to ride bicycles as other Americans. Though the health impact is beneficial, the ridership is less likely to continue in the second generation.

1 minute read

April 29, 2010, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

UCLA Doctoral candidate Michael Smart conducted the study, and he says it may help to identify ways to encourage cycling among other Americans.

"Using the U.S.-based 2001 National Household Travel Survey, Smart analyzed the ridership rates for the small portion of trips Americans make by bike.

Although in the National Household Travel Survey more foreign-born immigrants over the age of 26 had graduate or professional degrees than native-born Americans, there were also many more immigrants without a high school degree or equivalent than native-born respondents. (It is important to note that the survey did not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants.) Smart recognizes the need to be careful when studying "immigrants," as they are clearly a diverse group."

FULL STORY: Bicycles and the ‘Immigrant Effect’

Sunday, April 25, 2010 in Miller-McCune

Social / Demographics Transportation United States Bicycling Immigrants

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