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Abstract for presentation (Poster or Podium) with a Paper in the Conference Proceedings

Social Equity, Justice, and Welfare

Using the 2017 NHTS to Investigate the Effect of Household Income on Biking Activities

Sunday, June 16, 2024
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET
Room: Galleria
Abstract: This study examines the impact of household income on bicycle behaviors in the United States using data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). The study focuses on three major aspects: the number of bike trips, the number of bike trips for exercise, and the use of bike share systems among different socioeconomic levels. The project intends to contribute to our understanding of bike-travel behavior by evaluating this large dataset, assisting transportation planners and authorities in prioritizing investments in bike infrastructure. The findings build on the authors' previous research, which found differences in bike sharing program participation across African American and Asian groups, with higher-income people and women participating more. This study broadens the investigation to include a broader range of bike activities and income levels. Preliminary findings demonstrate an inverse association between income and bike utilization, with low-income households using bike share programs more frequently, taking more bike rides, and biking for fitness more frequently. These findings highlight the need to take wealth gaps into account when establishing and promoting cycling initiatives, with consequences for policy formulation and urban planning. 

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • Understand the research objectives and methodology used to examine the impact of household income on various bicycle-related behaviors in the United States, based on data from the 2017 NHTS.
  • Gain insights into the findings that indicate an inverse association between income and bike utilization, with low-income households more actively participating in bike share programs, and taking more bike rides.
  • Explore the specific aspects of bicycle behavior studied, including the number of bike trips, bike trips for exercise, and the use of bike share systems, across different socioeconomic levels.