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Does anyone walk and bike outside of big cities? New report says yes.
If you think bicycling and walking are only for big cities, you are only getting part of the story. A report released today by the Rails to Trails Conservancy, “Active Transportation Beyond Urban Centers“, shows that people walk and bike more in rural areas than people usually think. ”This report demonstrates that, in fact, rates for walking and bicycling in rural areas are close to, and sometimes higher than, the national averages,” says Tracy Hadden Loh, RTC’s research manager and co-author of the report.
Rural areas benefit from significant federal investment in Active Transportation
Federal investment in biking and walking benefits rural areas as much or more than urban centers, according to the report. Rural areas receive almost twice as much funding per capita as urban areas from the federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) program.
The best bargain in the federal budget
Just like in urban areas, investments in walking and biking are remarkably cost-effective. “Because active transportation facilities cost a tiny fraction of roadways, and because there is pent-up demand due to past failures to build safe and convenient bicycling and walking networks, active transportation investments offer taxpayers a far greater return on their money,” the report says. “Additionally, these projects create more good jobs per dollar than large highway projects, and the money stays closer to home in small, local businesses. And when you consider that more Americans biking and walking means less spent on health care to counteract effects of the obesity crisis (the federal government pays 30 percent of all health care costs) and less of our money flowing out of the country to pay for foreign oil, active transportation adds up to the best bargain in our federal budget.”
The need to make the case
This research comes at an important time as bicycling and walking advocates are making the case to Members of Congress that investments in active transportation are critical and beneficial for all Americans. The utility and benefits are not limited to any one geographic area or segment of the population.
To find fatality, obesity, and bicycle network information, including Enhancements and Safe Routes to School projects, for your area and Congressional District, check out this interactive map (click and scroll down).
Darren Flusche
League Policy Director
Flusche joined the League in April 2009 and has a B.A. in history from Syracuse University and a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in public policy analysis from New York University.
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January 30th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Thanks for pointing this out here. Sometimes, we cyclists out in the boondocks think we have been all but forgotten in a cacophony of design work and advocacy aimed at our city brethren. Granted, there are more cyclists (and more problems) in cities, but we are here too. The situation reminds me of that old New Yorker magazine cover.
http://www.joblessandless.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/new-yorker-cartoon1.jpg
Long straight rural roads with minimal shoulders, blind curves, high speeds, drunk or tired drivers, broken up, lip-paved, or glass infested shoulders, badly placed rumble strips, etc. increase the hazard to rural cyclists. Having said that, a lot of what can improve rural cycling can also make roads safer for motorists, such as providing good quality road shoulders with PROPER rumble strips to mitigate run-off road crashes and to provide space for broken down vehicles.
thanks for raising the issue.
January 30th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
[...] the Rails to Trails Conservancy via the League of American Bicyclists has a positive report about Cycling Beyond the Urban Core. Share this:ShareFacebookTwitterEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. This entry was [...]
January 30th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I have ridden on both organized and unorganized rides in several midwestern states, including inside and outside of towns. The best riding is where there are nice roads with good shoulders and laws that educate motorists about cyclists and require them to do such things as keep a safe distance away when passing. If it was safe to ride everywhere I’d be out every single day (yes, I have even ridden in the snow) inside or outside of town. As it is I ride when I can, generally getting out as early as possible to avoid traffic when taking pleasure rides. Practical riding for errands is less frequent. We cyclists need to stick together no matter where we ride. Sensible policy has to include all roads urban & rural! Safer conditions = more riding = better for all of us.
January 30th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
P.S. Part of the challenge is riding myself and then telling kids, that its not safe enough for them to ride.
January 31st, 2012 at 7:25 am
I believe Indiana is making great strides with their trail program. I have ridden portions of the route from Rochester to Cassville, and there were a significant number of local folks walking and biking on the trail. While driving to Rochester IN from the Dayton OH area (another great ped and cycling center for both urban and rural users), I noticed miles of trail either built or under construction from Richmond IN north. Great to see this in my old stomping ground.
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February 8th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
[...] that trains are for blue urbanites and roads for rural red states (which is to say nothing of bike riding).“Sometimes I’ll be with a senator talking about public transit and its importance, and he’ll [...]