Walking and Cycling in the United States, 2001–2009

Evidence From the National Household Travel Surveys

Bibliographic Data

ID11034079
AuthorsJohn Pucher (0000-0002-9499-2383, John Pucher is with the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Ralph Buehler is with the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, Alexandria, Virginia. Dafna Merom and Adrian Bauman are with the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.), Ralph Buehler (0000-0002-1254-2224, John Pucher is with the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Ralph Buehler is with the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, Alexandria, Virginia. Dafna Merom and Adrian Bauman are with the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.), Dafna Merom (0000-0001-6459-8628, John Pucher is with the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Ralph Buehler is with the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, Alexandria, Virginia. Dafna Merom and Adrian Bauman are with the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.), Adrian Bauman (0000-0002-0369-4621, John Pucher is with the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Ralph Buehler is with the School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, Alexandria, Virginia. Dafna Merom and Adrian Bauman are with the School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.)
Year2011
Volume101
IssueS1
PagesS310-S317
Publication date2011-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2010.300067
PMID21551387
PMCIDPMC3222478
OpenAlexW2072437309
LanguageEN
Citations received33
References cited23

Objectives. To assess changes in walking and cycling in the United States between 2001 and 2009. Methods. The 2001 and 2009 National Household Travel Surveys were used to compute the frequency, duration, and distance of walking and cycling per capita. The population-weighted person and trip files were merged to calculate the prevalence of any walking and cycling and of walking and cycling at least 30 minutes per day. Results. The average American made 17 more walk trips in 2009 than in 2001, covering 9 more miles per year, compared with only 2 more bike trips, and 5 more miles cycling. At the population level, the prevalence of “any walking” remained unchanged (about 18%), whereas walking at least 30 minutes per day increased from 7.2% to 8.0%. The prevalence of “any cycling” and cycling 30 minutes per day remained unchanged (1.7% and 0.9%, respectively). Active travel declined for women, children, and seniors, but increased among men, the middle aged, employed, well-educated, and persons without a car. Conclusions. Walking increased slightly, whereas cycling levels stagnated, and the overall prevalence of active travel remained low. Improved infrastructure for walking and cycling must be combined with programs to encourage active travel among more groups, especially children, seniors, and women

Cycling · Environmental health · Geography · Injury prevention · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Population · Suicide prevention · Transport engineering · TRIPS architecture · Demography · Engineering · Medicine · Older Adults Driving Studies · Transportation Planning and Optimization · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Gerontology

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