ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF BICYCLING AND WALKING IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Bicycling and walking are underappreciated modes of mobility in the United States. In an attempt to reassert the benefits of these human-powered transportation modes, the fuel and emissions savings resulting from current levels of bicycling and walking have been estimated. On the basis of high estimates of miles traveled by bicycling and walking, these combined modes displace between 1.2 and 5.0% of passenger vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. Additionally, bicycling and walking displace as much as 1.6% of carbon dioxide emissions from passenger vehicles. The environmental benefits that can be realized from increased bicycling and walking in 2000 are also projected. If federal and state governments go a step beyond the flexible funding provisions of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to direct state and federal funding toward investments in bicycling and walking infrastructure, higher levels of bicycling and walking and thus greater environmental benefits will result by 2000. Bicycling and walking could displace 4 to 15% of projected passenger vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds and 5% of passenger vehicle carbon dioxide.

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