Some days it seems as if nearly everyone is SoCal is out riding their bikes. Indeed, a recent study determined that roughly 34 percent of the population in the United States over the age of 3 rode a bike in the last year.
Male cyclists outnumber females at 76 percent to 24 percent. Young people far eclipse the elderly as cyclists, with those 15 and under making nearly 40 percent of all bicycle trips. Senior citizens age 65 and up only take 6 percent of bike trips.
Millennials are more likely to be invested in this more sustainable mode of travel than older Americans. Still, for some cyclists, it may be their best economic option, as reportedly 13 percent of those earning less than $20,000 per year tend to ride bikes.
Minorities comprise 23 percent of those who regularly ride bicycles. In fact, African-Americans increased ridership as much as 90 percent in the last decade, a much greater gain than seen in any other ethnic or racial group.
For 13 percent of the population, riding a bicycle is the way they routinely commute to work. Yet, 62 percent of all trips continue to be for health or recreation. Even in the lower socioeconomic groups, riding for pleasure and recreation still tops the list.
More than a decade ago, a bicycle coordinator in Portland, Oregon, classified bicyclists into four tongue-in-cheek groups:
- Strong and Fearless
- Enthused and Confident
- Interested But Concerned
- No Way, No How
Of the latter group, the primary reason for not riding was fear of riding in traffic. That’s a valid concern, as devastating injuries and death can result from getting hit by a motorist while riding a bike.
If you suffered injuries in a bicycle collision, you may want to look into your legal rights to pursue compensation from the driver who hit you.
Source: Governors Highway Safety Association, “A Right to the Road Understanding & Addressing Bicyclist Safety,” accessed March 30, 2018