After several years of increasing numbers of Americans biking to work on a regular basis, the percentage of workers commuting via bicycle has declined for the third year in a row. According to a recent USA Today article, the number of bicyclists riding to work fell 3.2% from 2016 to 2017, to an average of 836,569 workers nationwide. Those numbers are significantly lower than the high reached in 2014 of 904,463 commuting bicyclists, which peaked after four straight years of substantial increases.

Interestingly, the number of individuals riding bicycles to work declined by as much as 50% in Tampa, Florida, and Cleveland, Ohio, while numbers in other U.S. cities rose just as drastically. San Francisco saw a drop of 19.9% in bicycle commuters and Oakland saw a drop of 25.8%. On the other hand, for cities that are traditionally bike-friendly and enjoy high rates of bicycling to work, such as Portland, Washington, and Minneapolis, numbers continued to increase. These statistics have varied widely despite the overall move by many municipalities to make their streets safer for cyclists by installing bike lanes and paths and implementing bike-sharing programs.

Some of the declines are attributable to lower gas prices and a stronger economy, in which purchasing a vehicle is more attainable. The increased popularity of ride share services, such as Uber and Lyft, also may have cut into the numbers of cyclists. In cities like Los Angeles, some explain the decline as the natural consequence of bicyclists not feeling safe on city streets. After Los Angeles started installing miles of bike lanes and lowering speed limits to make streets safer for bicyclists, motorists pushed back, which has largely stalled these efforts. In fact, Bicycling magazine named Los Angeles as the worst biking city in America in October 2018.

Still, efforts in some cities seem to have paid off. From 2016 to 2017, Long Beach, California, saw a 23.1% increase in individuals who chose to ride bicycles to work. City officials attribute the increase to adding bike lanes throughout the city, establishing dedicated bike routes separate from other traffic, and establishing a well-received bike-sharing program. Bonnici Law Group has the experience, knowledge and reputation that you want and need when you are injured in a bike accident. We are here to help you build the strongest claim possible for compensation and obtain a positive outcome in your case. Do not hesitate to contact Bonnici Law Group at 858-261-5454 or help@bonnicilawgroup.com.