Blog
U.S. Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion Per Year by Riding, Instead of Driving
New data released today by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR) highlights the tremendous economic benefits of bicycling and its importance as a safe transportation choice that should be available to every U.S. resident.
The fact sheet release coincides with National Bike to Work Day, as more than 1 million U.S. residents are expected to participate in hundreds of events across the country, showcasing bicycles as a healthy, affordable and efficient form of transportation.
New and key data highlighted in the fact sheet includes:
- Bicyclists in the U.S. save $4.6 billion per year by riding, instead of driving
- If American drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike each week for the whole year, it would save more than 2 billion gallons of gas.
- From 2001 to 2009, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans took up biking at faster rates than other Americans, representing 21 percent of all bike trips in the U.S. in 2009.
“There are so many reasons more people are riding, from improving their health to protecting the environment,” said League President Andy Clarke. “But, especially in tough economic times, bicycling can also be an economic catalyst, keeping billions of dollars in the pockets of American families.”
“Biking is an important piece of a 21st century transportation system,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “Biking reduces America’s dependence on oil and lets individuals bypass the gas pump, saving individuals money and protecting our health and environment from dirty oil pollution.”
“Bicycling is a crucial mode of commuting for many Latinos,” said Catherine Singley, Senior Policy Analyst at NCLR. “Federal transportation policy should ensure that biking is a safe and viable way to connect people to jobs.”
Widespread desire for-and widespread benefits to be gained from-bicycling make it an important part of a 21st century transportation system. Everyone who chooses to bicycle should have access to safe infrastructure that lets them take advantage of the economic benefits of bicycling.
Click here or the image above to view the full fact sheet. (Click here to download the fact sheet in Spanish.)
Carolyn Szczepanski
Communications Director
Carolyn joined the League in March 2012, after two years at the Alliance for Biking & Walking. In addition to managing the League's blog, magazine and other communications, Carolyn organized the first National Women's Bicycling Summit and launched the League's newest program: Women Bike. Before she crossed over to advocacy, she was a professional journalist for nearly 10 years.
Subscribe
May 18th, 2012 at 11:21 am
[...] U.S. Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion Per Year by Riding, Instead of Driving [...]
May 18th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
[...] are paid for, we’ll still have $267,000 left over. In somewhat more official calculations, U.S. bicyclists save $4.6 billion per year by riding instead of driving. That according to new data released today by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and [...]
May 18th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
[...] The League of American Bicyclists unleashed a new study today showing that, taken all together, the people in America who ride bikes save $4.6 billion a year by driving less. [...]
May 21st, 2012 at 3:08 pm
[...] During this National Bike Month we all need to acknowledge the efforts of a community of cyclists who, because of necessity, and also devotion to their families and their work, this year alone will help the country save some $4.6 billion in transportation and gas costs. [...]
May 22nd, 2012 at 1:47 am
[...] but it adds more than just a little girth where it counts — the pocketbook. According to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR), [...]
May 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 am
[...] but it adds more than just a little girth where it counts — the pocketbook. According to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR), [...]
May 22nd, 2012 at 6:19 am
[...] but it adds more than just a little girth where it counts — the pocketbook. According to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR), [...]
May 22nd, 2012 at 9:26 am
[...] LAB Image: bicyclists on a bicycle path in Groningen, the Netherlands by me (zachary shahan) /* [...]
May 22nd, 2012 at 11:52 am
Great website, thanks for share this article with us
May 22nd, 2012 at 11:53 am
[...] but it adds more than just a little girth where it counts — the pocketbook. According to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR), [...]
May 23rd, 2012 at 6:08 am
[...] Bikeleague.org Blog » Blog Archive » U.S. Bicyclists Save $4.6 Billion Per Year by Riding, Instead… New data released today by the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR) highlights the tremendous economic benefits of bicycling and its importance as a safe transportation choice that should be available to every U.S. resident. __spr_config = { pid: '4ed4d66e396cef4a7b00013c', title: 'Links of the day – May 23, 2012', ckw: 'Links', chan: 'press-cuttings', no_slide: '', slide_logo: false, pub: '2012-05-23 10:04:48', url: 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cycling-embassy.dk%2F2012%2F05%2F23%2Flinks-of-the-day-may-23-2012%2F', header: 'RECOMMENDED FOR YOU' }; var content = document.getElementById('simplereach-slide-tag').parentNode, loc; if (content.className){ loc = '.' + content.className; } if (content.id){ loc = '#' + content.id; } __spr_config.loc = loc || content; (function(){ var s = document.createElement('script'); s.async = true; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = document.location.protocol + '//d8rk54i4mohrb.cloudfront.net/js/slide.js'; __spr_config.css = 'http://www.cycling-embassy.dk/?srslide_css=1' var tg = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; if (!tg) {tg = document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];} if (tg) {tg.appendChild(s);} })(); This entry was posted on May 23, 2012 at 12:04, filed under Press Cuttings and tagged Links. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « Links of the day – May 22, 2012 award campaigns case story children cities commuting conference copenhagen copenhagenization copenhagenize culture denmark economics espanol evaluation event Germany health infrastructure innovation JanGehl Links maintenance Media Meet the Members municipality news newsletter odense parking planning policy presentation promotion publication safety solutions sustainability tourism transportation urban usa velo-city video work [...]
May 23rd, 2012 at 1:16 pm
[...] Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune stated (via bikeleague.org), “Biking is an important piece of a 21st century transportation system. Biking reduces [...]
May 24th, 2012 at 5:11 am
[...] health benefits to cycling, however the financial rewards of cycling are coming to light with a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR). [...]
May 29th, 2012 at 9:34 am
[...] of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, ed il National Council of La Raza (NCLR), hanno comunicato nuovi dati emersi da un recente studio che evidenziano in modo incontrovertibile gli enormi benefici economici [...]