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 "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 bicyclists and pedestrians 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. The data collection occurred during the summer of 2002 and involved 9,600 respondents aged 16 years or older. 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, 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 and detailed results were not yet available at the time of publication, noting "Data Available Soon!" Consequently, no specific findings, statistical results, or empirical conclusions from the survey are presented in this text. Instead, the document serves as a roadmap for the future release of information. It outlines a planned publication schedule for 2003, beginning with a brief summary report covering major findings in early 2003. This was to be followed by a comprehensive three-volume report later in the year. The three-volume set was designed to include an expanded summary of key findings, a detailed description of all findings and major analyses, and a full account of 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 potential to provide high-quality, national-level data on non-motorized transportation. By systematically collecting information on safety perceptions, facility usage, and community design, the survey aimed to equip stakeholders with the evidence needed to improve infrastructure and safety policies. The collaboration between NHTSA and BTS, along with the use of professional survey methods by The Gallup Organization, underscores the intent to produce authoritative data for transportation planning and safety advocacy. However, as this document is a pre-release announcement, it does not contribute new empirical evidence to the field but rather signals the forthcoming availability of such data.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-nvidia on 2026-07-02; verification: verified.

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• incidence prevalence

Information type

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