US Bike Trips Have Soared Since 2019
New data reveals big gains in cycling since the start of Covid-19. But there’s a warning, too.
A group of students commute to school on bicycles in San Francisco in 2022. Bike trips have soared in the Bay Area since 2019.
Photographer: Bryan Banducci/BloombergA new report from StreetLight Data reveals significant gains in cycling across the US since the start of the pandemic.
Out of the 100 largest US metropolitan statistical areas, New York City led the pack with 97% growth in bike trips from 2019 to 2022, reflecting a lasting shift towards cycling by commuters who previously relied on subways. San Diego, where bicycle sales soared during Covid and officials installed a raft of new bike lanes in turn, came in second with 71% growth. Bakersfield, California, and Las Vegas had the third and fourth highest growth, respectively, while in Virginia, Richmond and Virginia Beach came in fifth and sixth place. Los Angeles and Chicago, the two largest US cities behind New York, also saw upwards of 50% growth.