Trends and determinants of cycling in the Washington, DC region.

Buehler, Ralph; Hamre, Andrea; Sonenklar, Dan; Goger, Paul · 2011 · ROSA P / Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center

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Summary

This report analyzes cycling trends, policies, and commuting determinants in the Washington, DC metropolitan region, encompassing the urban core (Washington, DC; Alexandria; Arlington) and inner suburbs (Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties). The study aims to understand the variability and drivers of cycling within a single metropolitan area, addressing a gap in prior research that often excluded suburban jurisdictions. The analysis is divided into two parts: a qualitative review of trends and policies over the last two decades, and a quantitative regression analysis of bike commuting determinants. Part 1 utilizes mixed methods, including official documents, site visits, and interviews with transport planners, alongside data from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCOG) Household Travel Survey and the National Household Travel Survey. Findings indicate that cycling levels increased between 1994 and 2008, though growth was spatially concentrated in the urban core. Notably, 41% of weekday bike trips in the region were commute-related, significantly higher than the 17% national average for urbanized areas, resembling patterns in European bike-friendly cities. Cyclist demographics were predominantly male, aged 25–40, white, and from higher-income groups. Safety improved over the period, with jurisdictions exhibiting higher cycling volumes showing lower fatality rates, supporting the "safety in numbers" theory. Policy evolution shifted from off-street paths in the 1970s–1990s to expanded on-street lanes and innovative infrastructure since the late 1990s. Part 2 employs logit, probit, and relogit regressions on data from 5,091 workers to identify determinants of bike commuting. The analysis controls for socio-economic factors, population density, trip distance, bikeway supply, and season. Results demonstrate that bikeway supply is a significant predictor of bike commuting, supporting infrastructure expansion. Workplace amenities, specifically bike parking and cyclist showers, were positively associated with commuting by bicycle, with combined facilities having a stronger influence than parking alone. Conversely, free car parking at work was associated with reduced bike commuting, while transit commuter benefits showed no significant effect. Shorter trip distances and bicycle ownership also positively influenced commuting behavior. The study concludes that a comprehensive policy package is necessary to encourage broader cycling adoption. Key recommendations include expanding and connecting the fragmented bikeway network, providing trip-end facilities at work, reducing free car parking incentives, and implementing inclusive programs to address disparities among gender, race, and income groups. The findings suggest that integrating infrastructure improvements with supportive workplace policies can effectively increase bicycle commuting in the region.

Key finding

Bikeway supply, workplace bike parking, and cyclist showers are significant predictors of increased bike commuting, while free car parking at work is associated with less bike commuting.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 5091

Provenance

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Topics

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• cyclist safety