National Survey of Pedestrian & Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors: Highlights Report

NHTSA · 2002 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report presents the highlights of the 2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors, sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The study aimed to benchmark the scope, magnitude, and public attitudes regarding bicycling and walking in the United States. As the first survey of its kind, it sought to establish a foundation for improving infrastructure and environments to support these transportation modes. The data collection focused on behaviors and attitudes during the summer of 2002 (May through August), providing a snapshot of activity during that specific period rather than year-round projections. The survey was administered by The Gallup Organization via telephone between June 11 and August 20, 2002. It utilized a random sample of listed and unlisted telephone numbers across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, interviewing 9,616 respondents aged 16 or older. Results were weighted to reflect the national population of 208 million noninstitutionalized persons in this age group. Respondents reported on their bicycling and walking behaviors over the preceding 30 days, with detailed trip data collected for up to six trips on the most recent day they engaged in each activity. The survey covered topics including trip frequency, purpose, length, facility use, safety perceptions, and reasons for not engaging in these activities. Key findings indicate that 27.3% of the driving-age public (approximately 57 million people) bicycled during the summer, while 78.7% (approximately 164 million) walked. Bicycling prevalence declined with age, from 39.1% among those aged 16–24 to 8.6% among those 65 and older, whereas walking remained high across age groups, though lower for seniors (65.6%). The most common reasons for not bicycling were lack of access to a bicycle (26.0%) and being too busy (16.9%), while the primary barriers to walking were disability or health impairments (24.5%) and bad weather (22.0%). On average, bicyclists took 1.6 trips per day with a mean length of 3.9 miles, primarily for recreation (26.0%) and exercise (23.6%). Pedestrians averaged 1.7 trips per day with a mean length of 1.2 miles, primarily for exercise (27.0%) and personal errands (17.3%). Most bicyclists used paved roads (48.1%), while most pedestrians used sidewalks (45.1%). The survey revealed significant public dissatisfaction with current infrastructure, despite moderate satisfaction levels. While 50.2% of adults were satisfied with community design for bicyclist safety, 46.9% recommended changes, with 73.0% calling for new bicycle facilities. Similarly, although 74.1% were satisfied with pedestrian safety design, 34.0% recommended improvements, with 74.7% advocating for better pedestrian facilities. These findings underscore a widespread demand for enhanced infrastructure, such as trails, lanes, and sidewalks, to support active transportation. The report serves as a preliminary benchmark, with detailed analyses planned for subsequent publications, to guide policy and infrastructure development for pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Key finding

Approximately 27.3% of adults bicycled and 78.7% walked at least once during the summer of 2002, with lack of bicycle access and health impairments being the most common reasons for non-participation in each respective activity.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 9616

Provenance

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• incidence prevalence

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence