National Biking and Walking Study: 15-Year Status Report
The National Biking and Walking Study: 15-Year Status Report is the third status update to the original that was published in 1994. The original report had the stated goals of increasing the percentage of trips made by bicycling and walking, while reducing traffic-related fatalities among this group. From the report:
This report is the third status update to the National Bicycling and Walking Study, originally published in 1994 as an assessment of bicycling and walking as transportation modes in the United States. Following the 5-year status report (1999) and 10-year status report (2004), the 15-year update measures the progress made toward the original goals of lowering the number of fatalities while increasing the percentage of trips made by bicycling and walking. Injury and fatality statistics are presented to measure this progress, as well as results from surveys related to travel habits. The 15-year report, unlike its two predecessors, examines a range of efforts to increase bicycling and walking in the United States. Programs at the Federal, State, and local levels are included, as well as case studies on best practices. Finally, the report makes recommendations for research, policy, and other measures that can be taken to meet the goals of the original study.
The numbers in the report are generally encouraging, with walking and bicycling trips on the rise, while fatalities and injuries are on the decline.
2 Responses to “National Biking and Walking Study: 15-Year Status Report”
Just saw this on the latimes web site: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/06/obama-administration-seeks-more-money-to-encourage-walking-and-biking.html
It is certainly encouraging that transport funding for cycling has risen from neear 0% to nearly 2%.
However, I think the use of total fatalities per year is a misleading measure of safety, since the marginal decline seems to be made up of a modest rise in adult cyclists killed and a huge decline in child cyclists killed.
I posted this chart I made of some stats here before, but it gives me pause for thought.
The injury stats are, as the report notes, subject to under reporting.