DC bike group says fewer now riding bikes to work than in 2012 (?!?!)

[Anonymous]

Check out these stats from the League of American Bicyclists. They say 13,276 Washingtonians commuted to work on bike in 2023, which is less than the 13,493 who did in 2012. What's up with that? The number of bike lanes, protected and otherwise, has exploded and the numbers are down? It looks like biking to work peaked in 2017 and began declining even before the pandemic. Any good explanations of what's happening here?

https://data.bikeleague.org/data/cities-rates-of-active-commuting/

[Anonymous]

I bike to work in DC, and I'm here to report that the number of other bikes in our office parking lot has decreased significantly since we returned to office post-COVID. Two guesses: people moved away farther and now live too far to bike to work. OR people bike on their days at home and drive in on their 1, 2, or 3 days in the office.

[Anonymous]

I thought the theory was that if we build it, they will come. The number of riders seems to be shrinking even as the number of lanes increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bike to work in DC, and I'm here to report that the number of other bikes in our office parking lot has decreased significantly since we returned to office post-COVID. Two guesses: people moved away farther and now live too far to bike to work. OR people bike on their days at home and drive in on their 1, 2, or 3 days in the office.

The most obvious reason is that cycling was a generational fad very popular with Millennials post college. However, as Millennials aged and got kids cycling got impractical. Briefly folks tried the e-bike thing, but even if you’re committed the kids outgrow them quickly. Then when your kids are in elementary school, pick up and drop off is just more practical and convenient with a car, using transit or walking.

There will always been a dedicated, but small group of bicycle commuters. But there is a reason that it’s almost always older guys without significant childcare responsibilities.

The median Millennial is now like 40 or something. Maybe they will get back to it in 10 years when they’re 50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the theory was that if we build it, they will come. The number of riders seems to be shrinking even as the number of lanes increases.

That was an obvious lie.

I think bicycle commuting has declined in every city since a peak around 2015 or so, except New York. But in New York I think a lot of people are choosing to bicycle because they are afraid of the subway.

[Anonymous]

Asking why more people aren't biking is like asking why doesnt everyone love cauliflower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the theory was that if we build it, they will come. The number of riders seems to be shrinking even as the number of lanes increases.

That was an obvious lie.

I think bicycle commuting has declined in every city since a peak around 2015 or so, except New York. But in New York I think a lot of people are choosing to bicycle because they are afraid of the subway.

Well, to be fair, many bike lanes were constructed by morons and don't feel very safe. Which is too bad, because biking in DC is a totally manageable commute.

[Anonymous]

Someone tell the anti-car zealots at DDOT. They seem to think that if they make traffic terrible enough (ahem, "road diet"), that everyone will switch to bikes. The data make clear that's not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the theory was that if we build it, they will come. The number of riders seems to be shrinking even as the number of lanes increases.

That was an obvious lie.

I think bicycle commuting has declined in every city since a peak around 2015 or so, except New York. But in New York I think a lot of people are choosing to bicycle because they are afraid of the subway.

Well, to be fair, many bike lanes were constructed by morons and don't feel very safe. Which is too bad, because biking in DC is a totally manageable commute.

DC let the local bike lobby, WABA, plan the bike lanes. So I guess we have found the morons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone tell the anti-car zealots at DDOT. They seem to think that if they make traffic terrible enough (ahem, "road diet"), that everyone will switch to bikes. The data make clear that's not happening.

DDOT officials get dressed down here by Black Washingtonians telling them they don't want their bike lanes: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/11/15/bike-lanes-road-safety-south-dakota-avenue/

[Anonymous]

Between the bus bump outs and the bikes lanes, Columbia Rd in AM has been destroyed for cars. It is absolutely awful, but I suppose that was their intention. It seems less safe for bikes now.

[Anonymous]

The numbers show what we knew all along. Biking appeals to a very small fraction of the population, and no one else.

[Anonymous]

I agree with these points made:

1. People just moved further out and can no longer bike into DC
2. They'll just drive in the couple days they work in the office
3. The bikers outgrew that stage in life and now that they have kids, it's impractical for them to commute by bike

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bike to work in DC, and I'm here to report that the number of other bikes in our office parking lot has decreased significantly since we returned to office post-COVID. Two guesses: people moved away farther and now live too far to bike to work. OR people bike on their days at home and drive in on their 1, 2, or 3 days in the office.

The most obvious reason is that cycling was a generational fad very popular with Millennials post college. However, as Millennials aged and got kids cycling got impractical. Briefly folks tried the e-bike thing, but even if you’re committed the kids outgrow them quickly. Then when your kids are in elementary school, pick up and drop off is just more practical and convenient with a car, using transit or walking.

There will always been a dedicated, but small group of bicycle commuters. But there is a reason that it’s almost always older guys without significant childcare responsibilities.

The median Millennial is now like 40 or something. Maybe they will get back to it in 10 years when they’re 50.

This post is very on point.

I would also add that with remote work and abbreviated days, spending four hours biking and showering to work. Doesn’t make sense for a four hour workday in the office.

But yeah, it’s terrible for when you have kids, it only works for people who don’t have any responsibilities at home and have no need to be anywhere in a particular time.

Also pedestrian vehicular safety has plummeted, as everyone seems to be staring at the phone while driving

[Anonymous]

1. This is yet another commuter survey. It tells you very little about total trips.
2. The ACS doesn't include scooters, those are in "other." Probably half the "bikes" in bike lanes these days are actually scooters.

For the bike bros, #1 is probably why your efforts are better focused on routes to schools/shops/etc than trying to put bike lanes on major commuter arterials.