In 1994, the National Biking and Walking Study reported that in 1990 7.9 percent of all reported trips were made either by foot (7.2 percent) or by bike (0.7 percent). From the initial modest numbers, two goals were set:
(1) Double the percentage of trips made through active transportation (from 7.9 percent to 15.8 percent)
(2) Simultaneously decrease the number of traffic crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians by 10 percent.
The National Biking and Walking Study 15-Year Report, released in May 2010, reported that though the percentage of biking and walking trips had increased to 11.9 percent of all trips (10.9 percent were made walking and 1 percent were made biking), the goal of doubling the prior percentage has yet to be met.
However, the study did point to encouraging statistics. It was reported that from 1990 to 2009, the number of walking trips reported more than doubled from 18 billion to 42.5 billion. And the number of biking trips reported demonstrated a similar trend, increasing from 1.7 billion trips in 1990 to 4 billion trips in 2009.
Strikingly, the study found that even as the volume of trips made by biking and walking increased, the number of related traffic accidents decreased. Pedestrian fatalities decreased by 22.3 percent and bicyclist fatalities decreased by 12 percent from 1993 to 2008, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Furthermore, estimates of pedestrian injuries decreased 17.8 percent, from 84,000 in 1995 to 69,000 in 2008, and estimated bicyclist injuries also declined by 14.7 percent, from 61,000 injuries in 1995 to 52,000 injuries in 2008. These numbers clearly demonstrate that the study far exceeded its second goal.
Additionally, the study reported on current initiatives aiming to further increase the use of active transportation. These programs in progress include Safe Routes to School, livability initiatives promoting sustainable communities, the adoption of Complete Streets policies, and incentivizing active transportation choices.
