Biking is one of the most popular activities worldwide. In fact, in some countries like Denmark, it has become the main vehicle for transportation, surpassing cars and even the subway.
Copenhagen folks ride around 2 miles per day, and people use their bikes for pretty much every trip under 4 miles.
Worldwide, biking trends are on the rise. In the US, bike trips rose from around 2 billion in 2000 to around 4 billion in 2009.
Among people in the US, men are more likely to ride a bike than women. This isn’t the case in northern Europe, where pretty much everyone bikes.
In the US, women claim they’re concerned by their safety and that keeps them from riding more often. Women with children drive around 20% more than men, probably hauling their kids to a myriad of activities: this makes it more difficult to ride a bike. In Denmark, they have those long family bikes, but they’re still a rare occurrence in the US.
Women’s concerns about bike safety are well founded: in 2009 bicyclists deaths represented around 2% of all traffic fatalities.
Legislation changes have been made in order to protect bikers around the US, making the streets a safer place. If you want to know more, check today’s infographic! It’s all about bike safety. Enjoy the ride!
