A new study released on Friday, coinciding with National Bike to Work Day, finds that bicyclists in the United States save at least $4.6 billion a year by riding instead of driving, reports Tanya Mohn.
With the dramatic rise in bicycling commuters over the past decade (40%) and the outsized percentage of household budgets spent on transportation (more than food or healthcare), the economic benefits of bicycling announced last week by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and the National Council of La Raza are destined to raise a few eyebrows.
According to Mohn, "The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is $308, compared to $8,220 for the average car, and if American
drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike each week for
the entire year, it would save more than two billion gallons of gas, for
a total savings of $7.3 billion a year, based on $4 a gallon for gas."
"Making it easier and safer for people to walk or bicycle 'is a matter of fairness,' Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
wrote on his blog Fast Lane on Friday...LaHood noted that walking and bicycling are options people want,
citing a national poll released by Princeton Survey Research Associates International
in March that indicated that 'more than 80 percent of Americans support
maintaining or increasing federal funding for biking and walking.' 'The
benefits of bicycling are real, and there's no arguing with the
impressive ridership data,' LaHood said. 'Bicycling is an important part of the 21st century transportation mix.'"
Read the full story: Pedaling to Prosperity: Biking Saves U.S. Riders Billions A Year
After Repealing Complete Streets, Wisconsin Falls to 29th Most Bike-Friendly State
Despite a rise in bicycling by residents, Wisconsin has dedicated disappointingly low amounts of funding and resources to bike infrastructure.
How 'Bicycle Friendly' is Gainesville?
Despite a recent designation from the League of American Bicyclists, one writer argues that the city's infrastructure is failing to protect pedestrians and cyclists from dangerous car traffic.
Book Review: Before 'Park' Became a Verb
With so much to learn just by reading a Wall Street Journal book review of "Bike Battles: A History of Sharing the American Road" by James Longhurst, history professor at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, imagine what's to learn by reading the book.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking
New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.
DSA members accuse Mamdani of 'abandoning values' over housing redevelopment
New York City's mayor plans to replace about 2,000 units of public housing with private, mixed-income housing.
All sides of BRT debate unhappy with CDOT’s most recent move
The Colorado Department of Transportation is no longer considering center-running bus lanes for Colorado Boulevard.
Massachusetts bogs generate both power, and cranberries
Putting solar panels above farmland is one way Massachusetts is advancing toward its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello