U.S. Data Shows Walking Remains More Common Than Cycling
The analysis finds Americans walk seven times more than they bike annually due to variations in local infrastructure.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Cycling
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A new report from StreetLight analyzes bicycle and pedestrian travel across the 100 largest U.S. cities, revealing that Americans walk significantly more than they cycle. New York City leads the nation in annual bicycle miles per resident, while Orlando tops the list for pedestrian distance traveled.
Why it matters
The analysis highlights how urban design, including climate, density, and the availability of safe infrastructure, shapes how residents move through their communities. These patterns suggest that current environmental and structural factors play a major role in the wide gap between walking and cycling habits.
A report from StreetLight analyzed annual travel data across the 100 largest U.S. cities, finding that Americans average 23 miles of cycling versus 151 miles of walking annually. The specific weight of infrastructure versus climate in driving these discrepancies remains under study.
The players
StreetLight
An analytics firm that provides data on human movement and transportation patterns for urban planning.
The details
The report used transit data to calculate bicycle miles per capita and density, accounting for variables like local climate and tourism. While cities like New York and Boise show higher cycling participation, broader national trends show walking remains seven times more common than biking by distance. Researchers attribute this disparity to limited safe, accessible biking infrastructure that would otherwise encourage cycling as a primary mode of transportation.
Timeline
StreetLight published the report on biking and pedestrian activity in October 2026.
Health Landscape
This report builds on long-term data sets like the National Household Travel Survey to map how modern urban environments influence daily movement. It illustrates the ongoing challenge of integrating cycling into the American standard of care for active, preventative population health.
Understanding the travel habits in your local area can help you assess the feasibility of incorporating more active movement into your daily routine. If you are looking to increase physical activity, discussing safe routes and local biking infrastructure with your community planners is a helpful step.
The takeaway
The gap between walking and cycling habits largely stems from the availability of safe and accessible infrastructure. Tracking local pedestrian and cycling density can help residents identify the most practical opportunities to integrate consistent, active movement into their weekly health routine.
Further reading
For more on the intersection of active transit and public health, visit Cycling.
Live Poll
Should your city prioritize expanding bicycle lanes over improving pedestrian infrastructure in your neighborhood?
