Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, most U.S. cities saw a sharp rise in the number of trips taken by bike, but a recent plateau indicates a need for better infrastructure to promote continued growth.
New data shows a spike in U.S. bike trips since 2019, writes Laura Bliss in Bloomberg CityLab. New York City saw the sharpest growth—97 percent—as subway riders switched to a more socially distanced mode of travel. Across the country, San Diego saw a 71 percent increase in bike trips. Even famously car-centric Los Angeles saw a 50 percent growth.
Surprisingly, Portland, Oregon saw a 7 percent decrease in bike trips, but still ranks above most American cities for bike trips per capita. And in 2022, bike trips around the country leveled out. According to the report, “the flat line in 2022 is a warning that continued investment in safety-focused active transportation infrastructure … will be critical to re-animating growth.”
FULL STORY: US Bike Trips Have Soared Since 2019
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