58 Bicycle Commuting Statistics

by

These bicycle commuting figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.

Key Bicycle Commuting Statistics

The main findings are:

  • The 2019-2023 ACS counted 196,174 U.S. workers aged 16+ whose usual commute mode was bicycle.
  • The ACS counted 38,017 male bicycle commuters (2019-2023).
  • Nearly 139,000 Canadians bicycled to work in 2021, down from 222,130 in 2016 (2016 and 2021; Canada).
  • The average Canadian bicycle commute was 20.0 minutes one way in 2021 (Canada; workers 15+ with usual workplace).
  • Cycling made up 2% of all trips and 1% of distance travelled in England in 2023.
  • 966 bicyclists killed in the highest year of its 2010-2021 range.
  • The ACS commuting universe contained 157,645,183 workers aged 16+ (2019-2023).
  • The ACS counted 25,840 female bicycle commuters (2019-2023).
  • Canada had 209,900 bicycle commuters in May 2022.
  • The average Canadian bicycle commute was 20.8 minutes in 2016 (Canada).
  • Commuting accounted for 29% of cycling trips in England in 2023.
  • An average of 883 bicyclists killed annually from 2017-2021.
  • Bicycle commuting represented 0.4% of U.S. workers (2019-2023).
  • Men were 38,017 of the 63,857 bicycle commuters tabulated by sex (2019-2023).
  • Canada had 182,900 bicycle commuters in May 2023.

Contents

U.S. bicycle commuting scale

90% MOE 3,988.

90% MOE 166,534.

Rounded subject-table share.

Separate response category.

Usual mode.

Excludes taxicab.

Separate from bicycle.

Combines bicycle and walking.

U.S. bicycle commuter demographics and change

The reported u.S. bicycle-to-work mode share figures cover United States.

Measurement period U.S. bicycle-to-work mode share (percent of workers)
2000 0.4%
2016 0.6%
2020 0.5%

Source: Bicycle Safety.

90% MOE 1,671.

90% MOE 1,570.

Census sex categories.

Historical ACS estimate.

Historical ACS average.

All-purpose bicycling; 16,000-adult survey basis.

Pandemic work arrangements affected 2021.

Reopening snapshot.

May snapshot.

Share among bicycle commuters.

Active transit combines walking and bicycling.

Context, not bicycle commuting.

Bicycle commute time and travel patterns

Home workers excluded.

Main-mode measure.

National Household Survey.

Usual-workplace workers.

NTS diary; not commute-only.

All cycling purposes.

All-purpose; sample volatile.

All-purpose.

England cycling and commuting participation

All purposes; rounded.

Not bicycle share of all commuting.

Purpose share among cycling trips.

All cycling trips.

Trip-purpose share.

Access is not commuting.

All-purpose cycling.

Combines walking and cycling.

Bicycle commuting safety and infrastructure

  • NHTSA reported 966 bicyclists killed in the highest year of its 2010-2021 range. (Bicycle Safety)
  • NHTSA reported an average of 883 bicyclists killed annually from 2017-2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Bicyclists represented 2.2% of U.S. traffic fatalities in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Non-intersection locations accounted for 62% of U.S. bicyclist fatalities in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Urban areas accounted for approximately 85% of U.S. bicyclist fatalities in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Light trucks were involved in 46% of U.S. bicyclist fatalities in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Dawn, dusk or nighttime conditions accounted for 56% of U.S. bicyclist fatalities in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • Males were 86% of U.S. bicyclists killed and 81% of those injured in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • An estimated 41,615 U.S. bicyclists were injured in traffic crashes in 2021. (Bicycle Safety)
  • About 34% of Canadian neighbourhoods had no cycling infrastructure in a 2022 study (Canada). (Bike to Work Day: Cycling through the data)
  • Motor-vehicle collisions made up nearly 73% of fatal cycling events in Canada from 2006-2017. (Bike to Work Day: Cycling through the data)
  • Road-safety rules may not have been respected in about 32% of Canadian cycling fatalities from 2006-2017 (Canada). (Bike to Work Day: Cycling through the data)
  • Some U.S. travel-monitoring sources estimated 12%-16% growth in bicycle use during 2020 (Some U.S. monitored locations). (Bicycle Safety)

All bicycle travel; no exposure denominator.

All bicycle travel.

Fatality share, not trip risk.

Fatalities, not all crashes.

No exposure denominator.

Involvement, not fault.

All trip purposes.

Study partnered with three postsecondary institutions.

Historical all-cycling study.

Source says may not; all cycling.

Not nationally representative commuting data.

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