City of Houston bike commuters increased 62% in 5 years

More commuters than Austin

Jay Blazek Crossley, Sep 27, 11.

Bicycle commuters in the City of Houston increased by 62% over the last five years, according to the League of American Bicyclists, as noted by KUHF:

City of Houston Bicyclist-Pedestrian Coordinator Dan Raine says some cyclists use bike lanes and trails to get to their jobs. Others bike part of the way, and make the rest of the trip by bus. They can attach their bike to a rack on the front grill.  If it’s a park-and-ride bus, they can stow it in the luggage compartment.

“I’ve known some people that actually ended up selling their cars and going to a one-car family. People lose weight. They find that they just have a little less stress in their life, because they’re able to get out there and get the exercise that they need.”

The city of Houston has around 460 miles of bikeways. There are trails that meander along scenic bayous. Others run along rail beds that pass through historic neighborhoods.

But Raine says the city needs more than just trails to make bike commuting attractive. He says businesses can do their part by providing facilities for employees who bike.

Derived from the 2010 American Community Survey, the League estimates that 4,393 people commute via bicycle in the City of Houston, 0.5% of workers, slightly more than those commuting in the City of Austin, which is a much smaller city.  The City of Houston has the 18th largest population of Americans commuting by bicycle in the nation, with the top cities being New York (27,917 commuters), Portland, OR (17,035), and Los Angeles (16,101).

Related Stories
Dallas Voice: Bike vs. Bike: Which is the best city for cyclists: Big D or Cowtown?
The Atlantic Cities: Is Bicycle Commuting Really Catching On? And if So, Where?

(Image Credit: Todd Mecklam, flickr, creative commons)

More from Houston

Comments

Page 1 of 1 pages