Active Transportation, at its core, is about choosing human-powered movement. Think biking, walking, and using devices like wheelchairs – it’s all about mobility fueled by our own energy. This approach directly cuts down on the miles we travel in motor vehicles, making it a powerful tool for reducing harmful emissions, solving the first- and last-mile gap in transit, saving fuel, and boosting both personal and public health. A wide range of options falls under the umbrella of active transportation, from traditional bicycles and electric bikes to scooters, skateboards, wheelchairs, and simply walking.
Electric bikes, often called e-bikes, are emerging as a particularly impactful option within active transportation. They present a cost-effective way to lower energy consumption and serve as a practical alternative to car use for many journeys. The energy efficiency of e-bikes is remarkable, achieving an equivalent of up to 3,800 miles per gallon. Even with daily use, the annual charging cost can be surprisingly low, often less than $50. E-bikes have witnessed a surge in popularity recently. Notably, in the United States in 2022, e-bike sales surpassed electric vehicle sales by a significant 20%. Approximately one million e-bikes were sold, marking a 13.6% increase from the 880,000 sold in 2021. This growth is partly fueled by incentive programs like Denver’s e-bike rebate program, which offers rebates of $400 for e-bike purchases, and even larger rebates of $1,200 for residents who meet income qualifications. Building upon this success, the Colorado Energy Office is launching a $12 million statewide rebate program in 2023, specifically aimed at low- and moderate-income residents of Colorado. California is following suit with its own rebate program in 2023, providing $1,000 vouchers for standard e-bikes and up to $1,750 for adaptive or cargo e-bikes for eligible residents.
Infrastructure Development for Active Modes
To truly embrace active transportation, we need a well-developed network of infrastructure. This includes sidewalks, dedicated bike lanes, bike paths, pedestrian and cyclist overpasses, safe crosswalks, and ample bike racks. This infrastructure is crucial to ensure that people can travel safely and efficiently using active modes. Transportation planners and Public Works departments play a vital role in supporting active transportation by creating infrastructure that prioritizes user safety and convenience. This can include constructing protected bike lanes, separated from vehicle traffic, and ensuring adequate lighting along routes for those traveling in the evening or early morning.
Employers also have a part to play in promoting active transportation. By providing building upgrades such as bike racks, locker rooms, showers, and even bicycle maintenance facilities, employers can make it easier and more appealing for their employees to commute using active modes. Furthermore, investing in cycling infrastructure can contribute to making cities more equitable. Cycling can be a lower-cost transportation option, making it accessible to a broader range of residents. Analysis from CityLab has indicated that while bike commuting is present across all income levels, it tends to be more prevalent among lower-income households on average.
Initiatives like the Big Jump Project are making a tangible difference. Each year, this project supports 10 U.S. cities in enhancing their bicycling infrastructure and encouraging ridership. This is achieved through building interconnected biking networks and implementing outreach programs to motivate more people to choose cycling.
To further enhance safety for both pedestrians and cyclists, many state and local jurisdictions have implemented specific laws. Two common examples are safe passing laws, requiring motorists to give a safe distance when passing cyclists, and vulnerable road user laws, which increase penalties for drivers who harm pedestrians or cyclists. Organizations like the League of American Bicyclists and PeopleForBikes actively advocate for policies and infrastructure development that prioritize the safety of active transportation users. Government bodies such as Metro in Portland, Oregon, are also contributing by developing regional active transportation networks. These networks aim to improve walkability, bikeability, and access to public transit through stronger pedestrian and bicycle-friendly policies.
Expanding Access with Shared Micromobility Programs
Programs that offer shared micromobility options, such as bike and scooter sharing systems, are crucial for extending the advantages of active transportation to a wider population. This includes individuals who may not have the means to own their own bike or scooter. Local governments and partnering organizations can introduce sharing programs, offering both traditional and electric options, to boost accessibility, increase ridership, and enhance public familiarity and comfort with these energy-efficient modes. These programs can be viewed as extensions of the public transportation system, providing a valuable first-mile/last-mile solution for commuters and residents. Complementary education programs are also effective in increasing ridership by providing training on safe riding practices and basic bicycle repair and maintenance.
Providing resources such as maps of cyclist-friendly routes, locations of bike share stations, and information on supporting infrastructure is another effective way to encourage bike riding. The Denver Regional Bicycle Map is a great example of such a resource.
Shared micromobility encompasses fleets of vehicles, either fully or partially human-powered, including standard bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters, available for short-term rental. Micromobility solutions are particularly useful for single-leg or one-way trips, offering users a way to avoid the expenses associated with purchasing, maintaining, and storing a personal bike. These systems also provide an effective solution to bridge the first-and-last-mile gap, offering a more affordable, accessible, and equitable means for people to connect with public transit.
These shared small vehicles are most commonly found in densely populated urban areas, although micromobility systems are also successfully operating in communities of various sizes. Users typically access bikes or scooters through web-based or app-based platforms and pay either through membership plans or per ride. Membership models and payment structures are often designed to encourage frequent short trips, rather than less frequent long trips, in order to maximize vehicle availability and minimize downtime. At the end of a trip, users either return the bike or scooter to a designated docking station or, in the case of most dockless systems, can leave it at their final destination within a defined service area.
In recent years, the implementation of micromobility sharing services, including both bikes and scooters, has rapidly expanded across cities in the United States. According to data from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), the number of shared bike and scooter trips in the 100 largest U.S. cities saw a dramatic increase from 320,000 in 2010 to 84 million in 2018, and further to 136 million in 2019. This represents an impressive 60% increase in ridership in just one year, from 2018 to 2019. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant 70% decrease in ridership in 2020, by 2021, trips rebounded to 112 million, approaching pre-pandemic levels. A prominent example is Capital Bikeshare, which partners with both public and private organizations to offer over 5,000 bicycles at more than 700 stations throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. For those seeking deeper policy insights and research, resources such as the Shared Micromobility Playbook published by Transportation for America and the Shared Mobility Policy Playbook by the Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center are invaluable. When considering e-bikes or e-scooters for shared systems, safety is paramount. It is essential to ensure that all electric vehicles are tested and certified as fire-safe by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) due to fire risks associated with untested and non-standardized equipment. More broadly, municipalities should consider requiring UL-listing for all electric bikes and scooters sold within their jurisdictions to ensure public safety.
Further Exploration
For those looking to delve deeper into the topic of active transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation has compiled a comprehensive list of resources on their “Expand and Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure” page. This page offers a wealth of information, including case studies, best practices, relevant research, and policies related to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and safety.
