A National Survey of Bicyclists and Pedestrians

NHTSA · 2003 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

The provided text is a preliminary announcement and overview document for the "A National Survey of Bicyclists and Pedestrians," conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). The document outlines the motivation, methodology, and planned dissemination of data from a survey conducted in the summer of 2002. The primary objective of this initiative was to collect national-level data to support informed planning and decision-making for safety officials, transportation planners, advocates, traffic engineers, and researchers. The survey aimed to address gaps in understanding the behaviors, perceptions, and environments of non-motorized road users in the United States. The study employed a rigorous methodological approach to ensure representative national data. NHTSA and BTS contracted with The Gallup Organization to administer the survey. Data were collected from 9,600 respondents aged 16 years or older during the summer of 2002. The sampling method utilized random-digit dialing (RDD) combined with computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The survey instrument covered a comprehensive range of topics for both bicyclists and pedestrians. Key areas of inquiry included the frequency of biking and walking, detailed trip information (such as origin, destination, length, time, distance, land use, purpose, facility use, and topography), reasons for not engaging in these activities, perceptions of safety, safety practices, facility availability, community design, satisfaction with community design, safe routes to school, and sociodemographic characteristics. The document explicitly states that the data were "available soon" at the time of publication and does not present specific statistical results, findings, or conclusions from the analysis. Instead, it details the planned release schedule for the survey outcomes. NHTSA and BTS intended to publish a series of reports based on the collected data. The first release, scheduled for early 2003, was a brief summary report covering major findings. This was to be followed later in 2003 by a comprehensive three-volume report. The volumes were planned to include an expanded summary of key findings, a detailed description of all findings and major analyses, and the survey methodology. Additionally, the raw data, questionnaire, and survey documentation were scheduled to be made available for public use. The significance of this work lies in its provision of high-quality, national-level data on bicyclists and pedestrians, a demographic often underrepresented in transportation statistics. By capturing detailed information on trip characteristics, safety perceptions, and infrastructure interactions, the survey was designed to facilitate evidence-based policy and infrastructure improvements. The collaboration between NHTSA and BTS, along with the use of professional survey methods by The Gallup Organization, underscores the intent to produce reliable data for enhancing the safety and accessibility of non-motorized transportation modes across the United States.

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• incidence prevalence

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: dataset resource