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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Susan E. Hobson, MPH and Andrew Dannenberg, MD, MPH. National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, Mailstop F-30, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-3427, esp8@cdc.gov

Background: Bicycling is a form of transportation that contributes to physical activity and may help reduce obesity. This report provides national estimates of bicycle use for transportation.

Methods: Bicycle use data were analyzed from the U.S. Department of Transportation's telephone-based 2001 National Household Travel Survey.

Results: Preliminary results show that of 160,758 respondents, 2,634 persons reported 5,184 bicycle trips with a median distance of one mile and median travel time of 15 minutes. 19.9% of these trips were ≥ 30 minutes. Excluding trips to return home, for respondents < 16 years, trip purposes included travel to the gym or to play sports (41.0%), to visit friends and relatives (20.1%), to entertainment (10.3%), to social or recreational outings (7.7%), and to school (5.5%). For those age ≥ 16 years, bicycle trip purposes included travel to the gym or to play sports (41.7%), to work (12.2%), to buy groceries or clothing (8.7%), and to visit friends and relatives (5.7%). Compared to respondents who chose another travel mode, persons who used bicycles were more likely to be < 16 years old (56.6% vs. 22.2%), male (66.5% vs. 49.3%), and, if an adult, more likely to have attended graduate school (19.6% vs. 11.8%). Household income and race did not vary substantially between users and nonusers of bicycles for transportation.

Discussion: Bicycling is an inexpensive form of transportation that provides health benefits. Choosing an active travel mode can help inactive populations achieve the Surgeon General's recommendations of 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Discuss the national demographic differences in bicycle use for transportation.
• Identify the most cited purposes for using bicycles for transportation.
• Recognize the potential for health promotion in using bicycles as a physically active mode of transportation.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered