National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors [Poster]

Levy, Marvin; Russell, J. Neil · 2003 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This poster presents preliminary findings from the 2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, the first national survey designed to benchmark bicycle and pedestrian activity, behaviors, and attitudes. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and administered by The Gallup Organization, the study aims to provide a foundation for improving infrastructure and safety-related activities for these transportation modes. The survey was fielded between June and August 2002, focusing on the driving-age public (16 years and older) during the summer months. The methodology involved collecting data on the frequency of walking and bicycling, trip characteristics (origin, destination, length, purpose, facility use), reasons for non-participation, safety perceptions, and community design satisfaction. Respondents reported behaviors over a 30-day period, with detailed trip data collected for up to six trips on the most recent day of activity. The data reflects summer activity and cannot be projected year-round. Key findings indicate that 78.7% of the driving-age public walked, ran, or jogged outdoors for at least five minutes during the survey period, equating to approximately 164 million pedestrians. In contrast, 27.3% rode a bicycle, representing about 57 million bicyclists. Bicycling prevalence was higher among males (34.0%) than females (21.3%) and declined steadily with age. The primary reasons for not walking were disabilities/health impairments (24.5%) and bad weather (22.0%), while the most common reason for not bicycling was lack of access to a bicycle (26.0%). On average, pedestrians took 1.7 trips per walking day, covering a mean distance of 1.2 miles, whereas bicyclists took 1.6 trips per riding day, covering a mean distance of 3.9 miles. Exercise and recreation were the leading purposes for both modes. Regarding infrastructure, 45.1% of walking trips occurred on sidewalks, while 48.1% of bicycling trips occurred on paved roads. The survey also assessed public satisfaction with community design. While 74.1% of adults were satisfied with pedestrian safety design, only 50.2% were satisfied with bicyclist safety design. Despite satisfaction levels, significant portions of the population recommended improvements: 74.7% suggested providing pedestrian facilities (e.g., sidewalks, crosswalks), and 73.0% suggested providing bicycle facilities (e.g., trails, lanes). These findings highlight widespread engagement in walking and bicycling during summer months and a strong public demand for improved infrastructure to support these modes safely.

Key finding

78.7% of adults aged 16 or older walked at least once in a 30-day period during summer 2002, while 27.3% rode a bicycle, with walking trips averaging 1.2 miles and bicycling trips averaging 3.9 miles.

Methodology

survey

Provenance

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Topics

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• pedestrian behavior perception

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence