Bicycle commuting is gaining momentum, especially among the younger generation.

Dear Lykkers! Roughly 870,000 people in the United States report commuting by bicycle, with many of them being young, urban residents.

May 17 is celebrated as National Bike to Work Day, encouraging individuals to embrace bicycle commuting. This annual event highlights the growing trend of using bicycles for daily commutes.

According to the most recent American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, covering 2013-2017, around 872,000 people, or 0.6% of all workers in the United States, bike to work.

Where is Bicycle Commuting Most Popular?

Biking to work is more prevalent in the principal cities of metropolitan areas (metros) than in the suburbs or outside metros.

The ACS estimates show that 1.1% of commuters in principal cities travel to work by bicycle, which is significantly higher than outside the urban core. In areas outside of principal cities within metros, only 0.3% of workers commute by bike, while 0.4% of workers outside metros use bicycles for commuting.

Who Bikes to Work?

Young workers between 16 and 24 years old are more likely to commute by bicycle compared to older workers. Around 1.0% of workers in this age group bike to work, while only 0.7% of workers aged 25-44 and 0.4% of workers aged 45 and older commute by bicycle.

In principal cities within metropolitan areas, 1.5% of 16- to 24-year-olds bike to work, showcasing the popularity of biking among the younger workforce in urban centers.

Although older workers bike to work at lower percentages, those aged 45 and older living in principal cities of metros bike at higher rates compared to the national average.

Bicycle commuting is more common among men, with around 0.8% of men biking to work (roughly 628,000), compared to 0.3% of women (244,000) in the 2013-2017 ACS data.

Top Bike Commuting Cities

Several cities in the United States have a notably higher share of people biking to work compared to the national average. Some of the top cities include:

Portland, Oregon

Portland is one of the leading cities for bicycle commuting, with an impressive 6.5% of commuters using bicycles for their daily trips to work.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. also stands out with 4.6% of commuters traveling by bicycle, reflecting a strong biking culture in the capital.

Davis, California

Davis, known for its large university population, has almost 20% of workers commuting by bicycle, making it a standout in bike-friendly cities.

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder, another city with a large college population, has 10.4% of its workforce biking to work, further highlighting the trend among younger, urban commuters.

In addition to these cities, many others with significant college or university populations, like those in Davis and Boulder, have seen a surge in bicycle commuting, contributing to the nationwide increase in the popularity of biking to work.