Traffic Trivia

• In 2003, traffic congestion delayed people world-wide for 7 billion hours and wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.
• Emissions from cars far outweighs that from power plants. Vehicles contribute to an estimated 60-70% of urban air pollution.
• 60% of the pollution created by car emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation.
• The United Nations estimates that about 180,000 people are added to the urban population every day; by 2050, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas; the personal automobile is not the solution for moving these people from point A to point B.
• Bicycling burns 500-700 calories per hour. Driving a car burns 5-20.
• Bicycling promotes healthier lifestyles, strengthens family bonds, provides a recreational outlet for youth, and builds closer-knit communities.
• 50% of car trips are less than 2 miles in total distance

• A 4-mile journey in Central London takes 40 minutes by car, yet only 22 minutes by bicycle.
• 7 to 12 bicycles can be parked in one automobile parking space.
• Car emissions produce 60-70% of urban air pollution. Bicycles produce 0%.
• Auto commuters waste 2.3 billion gallons of fuel annually in traffic jams. Bicycles waste 0 gallons.
• Many cities are raising the bar on a new standard for commuting by bike: in the Netherlands, 25% of the population commutes by bicycle; in Boulder, Colorado, 21% of the population commutes by bicycle; and in London, bike commuters don’t pay the congestion charge.

Sources: Trek Bicycles; Union of Concerned Scientists; The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Cost of Automobiles

• Amount of Oregon’s carbon emissions that come from transportation: 53 percent
• Average time U.S. parents spend behind the wheel every day: 72 minutes
• Average time spent with their children daily: less than 35 minutes
• Average number of hours Portlanders spent stuck in traffic in 2005: 38
• Average number of hours Portlanders would spend stuck in traffic if transit service were discontinued: 46
• Average cost of owning a car in the U.S. per year: $7,823
• Average cost of one lane-mile of new urban highway: $300 million
• Cost of one lane-mile of bicycle infrastructure: $2,000
• Average price of a new car sold in the United States: $28,400
• Cost of one fully built Yuba Mundo utility bicycle with fenders and a Hebie bi-pod kickstand: $975
• Number of people killed in motor vehicle related crashes in the U.S. every year: 42,000
• Odds of death due to being in a traffic crash as a pedestrian: 1:63
• Odds of death due to being in a traffic crash as a cyclist: 1:41
• Odds of death due to being in a traffic crash in a motor vehicle: 1:26
• Frequency of pedestrian deaths in the U.S.: every 110 minutes
• Frequency of pedestrian injuries: every 9 minutes
• Children raised within this distance of a freeway have increased chances of severe lung problems: 0.3 miles
• Rate of childhood asthma in the U.S.: 7 percent
• Rate of childhood asthma among kids living in Portland’s I-5 corridor: 13 percent
• Amount by which motor vehicle emissions can be reduced by eliminating 1 percent of automobile trips: 4 percent
• Amount by which allowing commuters to exchange their free parking for cash has been shown to reduce automobile trips: 13 percent

Sources: Towards Carfree Cities; Texas Transportation Institute; Sightline Institute; The Lancet; Victoria Transport Policy Institute; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; American Road and Transportation Builders Association; ODOT; AAA; National Safety Council; National Automobile Dealers Association; Coalition for a Livable Future

Autos in Evolution

“Psychologists have shown that motorists continually perform a sub-conscious ‘threat assessment scan’ and prioritize their engagement strategy. Naturally, two-wheelers slip to the low end of perceived danger, and are thus often entirely overlooked. It isn’t fair, it isn’t right, but we have to account for it or suffer the consequences.” Read more.

Driving takes a dramatic dive

On May 26, the US Department of Transportation announced that it had seen the sharpest monthly drop in driving since it began keeping records. In March, Americans drove 11 billion fewer miles than in March of 2007. Read more.

Idaho Town Adds Bike Lanes

Just when I thought my home state would never break into the 21st Century, Garden City, Idaho has added bike lanes. Bike lanes are an essential part of bicycle transportation infrastructure, but sometimes lead to a false sense of security for cyclists and motorists alike. Bike lanes or not, ride safe!

Traffic and Cycling Facts and Statistics

1. In 2003, traffic congestion delayed people world-wide for 7 billion hours and wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.
2. Emissions from cars far outweighs that from power plants. Vehicles contribute to an estimated 60-70% of urban air pollution.
3. 60% of the pollution created by car emissions happens in the first few minutes of operation.
4. The United Nations estimates that about 180,000 people are added to the urban population every day; by 2050, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas; the personal automobile is not the solution for moving these people from point A to point B.
5. Bicycling burns 500-700 calories per hour. Driving a car burns 5-20.
6. Bicycling promotes healthier lifestyles, strengthens family bonds, provides a recreational outlet for youth, and builds closer-knit communities.
7. 50% of car trips are less than 2 miles in total distance.
   
   
8. A 4-mile journey in Central London takes 40 minutes by car, yet only 22 minutes by bicycle.
9. 7 to 12 bicycles can be parked in one automobile parking space.
   
10. Car emissions produce 60-70% of urban air pollution. Bicycles produce 0%.
11. Commuters waste 2.3 billion gallons of fuel annually in traffic jams. Bicycles waste 0 gallons.
12. Many cities are raising the bar on a new standard for commuting by bike: in the Netherlands, 25% of the population commutes by bicycle; in Boulder, Colorado, 21% of the population commutes by bicycle; and in London, bike commuters don’t pay the congestion charge.

Sources: Trek Bicycles; Union of Concerned Scientists; The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change