New York City leads the way as new report shows surge in cycling across the U.S.

A recent report by StreetLight Data reveals a significant surge in cycling across the United States since the onset of the pandemic. The report, based on data from their Active Transportation Monitor, offers insights into the evolving landscape of cycling trends in the country.

From 2019 to 2022, there was a remarkable 37% increase in annual average daily bicycle trips nationwide. Notably, the most significant year-over-year growth occurred in 2020.

Metropolitan Trends

The impact of dense urban regions on national cycling trends has expanded. The top 100 metropolitan areas increased their share of national bike activity from 72% in 2019 to 77% in 2022. These metros witnessed a remarkable 46% growth in annual average daily trips from 2019 to 2022, with large cities showing impressive gains.

Leading the Pack

New York City took the lead in growth, nearly doubling its average daily bike volume in 2022 compared to 2019. Western metros, including San Diego, Bakersfield, and Las Vegas, followed NYC in terms of growth over the three-year period. Virginia’s Richmond and Virginia Beach secured the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.

Big Cities with Big Gains

Major cities with populations exceeding five million people, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, recorded a remarkable 50% increase in bicycle activity between 2019 and 2022. Additionally, every metro with a population of around five million or more witnessed at least a 25% increase in average daily bicycle trips.

Growth Patterns

While nearly every metro experienced its most substantial increase in biking in 2020, a concerning trend emerged in 2022. Sixty-five out of 100 metros saw annual average daily bicycle trips decrease in 2022 year-over-year. Richmond, Virginia, stood out with the highest growth in 2022 year-over-year, up 19%.

New York City

Challenges Faced

Despite the overall growth in cycling, only a handful of metros saw a decline in biking activity between 2019 and 2022. Among them, Portland, Oregon, the city associated with outdoor and bicycle culture, experienced a surprising decrease in activity.

The drop in numbers in Portland confirms earlier findings by the city that showed a similar troubling trajectory.

When Portland’s numbers were revealed, Kiel Johnson, chair of BikeLoud PDX, explained to Momentum that Portland has failed to make bicycling a convenient option, which is the goal of all good bicycle infrastructure.

“If you look at cities where cycling numbers have been increasing relative to car trips, convenience is the number one reason people opt to ride their bike,” Johnson says. “Look at page 9 of the Copenhagen bicycle account for 2022. Fastest, easiest, and most convenient are all the top four reasons. This is the same in surveys in the Netherlands. For trips that are three miles or less, we need to make riding a bicycle the obvious choice. Instead, we have built relatively safe routes through our neighborhoods on our ‘neighborhood greenway’ network that zig zags you around and are hidden for most people.”

Per Capita Rankings

The growth in cities like New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago propelled them up the rankings for cycling activity per capita. San Diego experienced the most significant increase in per capita rankings, rising from 16th place in 2019 to fifth place in 2022.

Statewide Impact

States across the U.S. have also witnessed a surge in ridership. The top 10 states by population all saw at least a 25% increase in biking activity between 2019 and 2022. States like New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Massachusetts, California, and Kentucky demonstrated significant cycling momentum.

A Stagnation Warning

While the report highlights substantial growth in cycling, it also raises a warning flag. The stagnation observed in 2022 indicates the need for continued investment in safety-focused active transportation infrastructure to sustain and revitalize cycling growth.

The report’s findings shed light on the evolving landscape of cycling in the U.S., highlighting both the remarkable progress and the challenges that lie ahead. The full report from StreetLight Data provides a comprehensive overview of cycling trends and their impact on infrastructure decisions.