Cycling Renaissance Races Across America

From coast to coast, cities across the United States are experiencing a rise in bicycling. Local governments are leading the peloton, with cycle-friendly policies and increases in government funding spurring a municipal pedal pursuit.

September 10, 2012, 10am PDT | Jonathan Nettler | @nettsj

From 1977 to 2009, bicycle travel has more than tripled in the U.S., with its respective share of all trips rising from 0.6% to 1%, reports The Economist. Chicago's plan to become the most cycle-friendly large city in the country typifies the approach of dozens of other cities, who are wooing bicyclists to their streets with cycle-friendly policies and investments.

However, the growth in cycling has not been widespread across all demographic groups. "Almost all the growth in cycling in America has come from men aged 25-64," says the article, with rates among women and children actually slipping, despite falling fatality rates.

"As 48% of trips in American cities are shorter than three miles, there is big potential for further growth. Yet while the future looks bright, America will struggle to catch up with northern Europe, where the proportion of local trips done by bike can be as high as 30%."

Thanks to Andrew Gorden

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Vive la révolution

Published on Friday, September 7, 2012 in The Economist