Bicycle Austin forum

Darron

Member

Registered: 2014-05-22

Posts: 131

Any data on the increase in cycling due to the pandemic?

I think many of us have seen articles citing high demand for bikes during the pandemic, but I haven't seen any data on if ridership and or bike commuting has increased.  Does anyone know if there is data sources for this for the pandemic?  Specifically for Central Texas?

Thanks!

Donald Lewis

Member

Registered: 2009-07-11

Posts: 184

Re: Any data on the increase in cycling due to the pandemic?

No statistics here, but....in my semi-rural neighborhood it went nuts almost a year ago.  Electric bikes, trikes. even an ellipti-go in the neighborhood.  Now we are almost back to pre-pandemic.

Jack

Member

Registered: 2013-03-27

Posts: 344

Re: Any data on the increase in cycling due to the pandemic?

Does anyone know if there is data sources for this for the pandemic?  Specifically for Central Texas?

Not so specifically, but I did see this source:  https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/11/25/ … you-think/  Changes are mixed.  Note my own case--one who a year ago was a daily bicycle commuter; now I hardly leave this house. 

Similar info:  https://www.outsideonline.com/2420131/p … -here-stay 

UK from last month:  https://road.cc/content/news/one-three- … gan-280569 

Canada last month:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/pand … -1.5951863

Darron

Member

Registered: 2014-05-22

Posts: 131

Re: Any data on the increase in cycling due to the pandemic?

Thanks,

Anecdotally I would say it has increased here as well.  One surprising area I've noticed is a lot of teens getting electric bikes instead of cars to commute back and forth to school.

Looking at the city of Austin's website that tracks trail usage the data is mixed.
http://www.eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=89

Some trails like Upper Boggy Creek seem to show an increase in usage but others show flat or even lower use.

Jack

Member

Registered: 2013-03-27

Posts: 344

Re: Any data on the increase in cycling due to the pandemic?

The report here  https://thebikeadviser.com/bike-commuti … ed-states/ 
shows a significant increase in bicycle commuting over the period 2000-2019.  All too early for pandemic increases to be included, but in case that is interesting . ...
While there was an increase over 2000-2019, the peak occurred in 2014, and there was a 5.9% drop from 2010-2019.

Last edited by Jack (2021-06-14 17:25:12)