Of the 7.3 billion people living on the planet, one in every 12 owns a bike. Despite appearances, however, that number has not increased much in recent years.
Ari Phillips reports on a new study in the Journal of Transport & Health that finds "global bicycle ownership has significantly fallen in the past three decades."
"Published in the Journal of Transport & Health, researchers from Johns Hopkins University analyzed data from 1.25 billion households in what they consider to be the the [sic] first global study of bicycle ownership over time. They found that the number of bike owners, while increasing or holding steady in some countries, has plummeted in others," explains Phillips.
Phillips spoke with the lead author of the story, Olufolajimi Oke, who hopes that the finds of the study will help policymakers find ways to get more traction for cycling. In a surprising finding couched in the otherwise distressing news for biking advocates, the United States has actually led the recent resurgence in the popularity of bikes in the past five years. Still, the percentage of Americans riding a bike for their commute hasn't changed much in the past decade.
The article includes more geographic detail about the findings of the study as well as some speculation on what the data means for the societies driving the numbers.
FULL STORY: Since the start of the millennial generation, bicycle ownership has screeched to a halt
Study: More Bike Infrastructure Could Prevent 15,000 Deaths Annually
In addition to reducing air pollution and congestion, improving bike infrastructure could save thousands of lives each year, according to new research.
St. Petersburg’s Bike Infrastructure Efforts Pay Off
New bike infrastructure is encouraging more people to take to the streets on two wheels, but advocates say safety challenges remain.
San Francisco Reveals New Bike Plan
The draft plan targets improvements on 385 road segments.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
Congestion Pricing Drops Holland Tunnel Delays by 65 Percent
New York City’s contentious tolling program has yielded improved traffic and roughly $100 million in revenue for the MTA.
In Both Crashes and Crime, Public Transportation is Far Safer than Driving
Contrary to popular assumptions, public transportation has far lower crash and crime rates than automobile travel. For safer communities, improve and encourage transit travel.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service