Is There More to America Than Just Car Culture?

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May is Mental Health Awareness and National Bike Month. Whoever thinks this is a coincidence does not understand the power of Active Transportation.

People with Bicycles are a Majority in America

Yes, that is right. Even in the U.S. of A., people with bicycles are a majority. Now, this seems like an outlandish proclamation. Let’s see if we can back this up with a few facts and numbers.

Percentage of Bicycle Ownership (PBO)

The Journal of Transport & Health published a study about 150 countries and their bicycle ownership percentages. The data was primarily collected via surveys over several years. Ultimately, they divided all these countries into four groups based on Household Percentage Bicycle Ownership (PBO). To nobody’s surprise, the leading group includes all the Scandinavian countries.

Group A, with around 81% PBO

Nine countries made it into this group. Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Austria and Slovenia. Now, it might look like only Europeans have “The Bicycle Culture”. But there is an unexpected member in this group. Africa’s Burkina Faso – one of the poorest countries in the World – has put a lot of effort into promoting bicycles to the benefit of its residents. In 1992, China would also have been placed in this group with 97.2%; in 2007, however, China fell back to Group C.

Group B, with around 60% PBO

Thanks to neighborhood peer pressure, there are more European countries in this group of 34 countries. But there are also countries like Japan, Laos, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Myanmar, Guyana, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand. In fact, all continents are represented in this group.

And surprise, surprise: The United States and Canada are also in this group, whereas the UK only made it to Group C.

… but wait, there’s more.

Are Americans riding their Bicycles?

“The popularity of bicycling for commuting and recreational purposes is growing, and San Mateo County boasts some of the most desirable roads in the Bay Area for recreational cyclists. With 46% of Americans bicycling for pleasure, it is estimated that over 300,000 county residents bicycle at least occasionally.

For some residents in the county, bicycling is a primary form of transportation. Commuter bicyclists include employees who ride to work and children who ride to school.” [2002 Final Report The Superior Court of California]

While 46% of Americans riding at least once in a while isn’t exactly a majority, it counts for a very high popular vote for cycling. In comparison, there are US Presidents who won their elections with fewer than 46% of the popular vote. And if we take voter turnout into consideration, not one of the 46 elected Presidents reached 46% of the population.

… but wait, there’s more.

“The Interested But Concerned”

50% of all trips made by people 75 and older in the Netherlands and Germany are either by walking or bicycling [NACTO]. Could America get closer to the bicycle country of the Netherlands and the car country of Germany?

According to various research studies, the bicycle population divides itself into something like “Strong and Fearless” (~1%), “Confident and Enthused” (~7%), and “Interested but Concerned” (~60%). The “No Way, No How” is clearly a minority, with only about 33%.

So, basically, the people who want to ride their bicycles—if there were infrastructure—are an astounding 67%—that would make it a clear majority.

… but wait, there’s more …

Coming out of the Closet

It clearly is not true what some car people keep telling us. All statistics indicate America clearly has a “Bicycle Culture.” A bicycle household ownership of 60% combined with a household car ownership of 90% means that 50% to 60% of households own both forms of transportation, and up to 10% might only own bicycles. 46% of Americans riding occasionally looks like a solid number – even in International comparisons. And 67% of people who are at least “Interested” in cycling are a customer base any private company can just dream of.

America has the numbers, America has the “Culture”, so why do we need a Bike-To-Work Day in San Mateo County to get people on bicycles out of hiding? Why isn’t every day a Bike-To-Work or Bike-To-The-Doctor Day in this County?

“Commuting by bicycle was less than 1% in the County. Fifty-three percent of Americans worry about being hit by a motor vehicle when riding a bicycle; 47% say they would be more likely to ride a bike if pathways were physically separated from motor vehicles.” [2023 San Mateo Grand Jury Report]

The Superior Court of California is saying that Bay Area council members have not done a good job for the Mental (and financial) Health of their cities and residents. They also haven’t used bicycle funding for the purpose promised to voters. And, of course, the City Managers and their staff have not implemented all the different Transportation Plans, Circulation Plans, General Plans, County Plans, or Climate Action Plans that have been asking to set all these American Bicycle Patriots free through bike lanes.

Post.Scriptum.

But we must keep this important information under wraps, just as US City Managers have for the last 100 years! The World needs to keep thinking America is all “Car Culture.”