Topics

U.S. Federal Transit

Federal Transit Administration - Livable and Sustainable Communities

Interesting Reads

Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities - Jeff Mapes
Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life - J. Harry Wray
The Cyclist's Manifesto: The Case for Riding on Two Wheels Instead of Four - Robert Hurst
Car-Free in Boston: A Guide for Locals and Visitors - Jeff Perk, Madeleine Noland, and Andrew Rubel
Rites of Way: The Politics of Transporation in Boston and The U.S. City - Alan Lupo, Frank Colcord, and Edmund P. Fowler
Bike Cult: The Ultimate Guide to Human-Powered Vehicles - David B. Perry
The Good City - Emily Hiestand and Ande Zellman
Bicycling Science - David Gordon Wilson
Inclusive Urban Design: Streets for Life - Elizabeth Burton and Lynne Mitchell
Transit Maps of the World - Mark Ovenden and Mike Ashworth
Public Spaces Public Places: Copenhagen - Jan Gehl and Lars Gemoze
Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less are the Keys to Sustainability
Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us) - Tom Vanderbilt

Facts and stats

The number of U.S. trips made by bike doubled between 1990 and 2009. (Federal Highway Administration)
A study of more than 18,000 middle-aged women found that those who bicycled regularly put on less weight as they aged. (Archives of Internal Medicine)
New York City residents save $19 billion every year by using alternative transportation. If NYC residents drove as much as residents of other big cities, they would own 4.5 million additional cars, consume 2.4 billion more gallons of gas, and produce 23 million more tons of carbon emissions each year. (NYC Dept. of Transportation)
In 2008, vehicle miles traveled decreased by 4% in the US. This resulted in 30% less congestions at peak traffic hours. (INRIX)
Nearly one third of commuters in the Boston area use public transportation. (Transportation for America)
Federal law does NOT hold SUVs and light trucks to strict emissions standards placed on passenger vehicles. (Transportation for America)
In just one U.S. generation, the percentage of kids who walk to bike to school has dropped from 50% to 15%, while childhood obesity has tripled. (Bikes Belong Coalition)
The U.S. could import 462 million fewer gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips. (Bikes Belong Coalition)
On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, bicyclists save roughly $10 daily and spare the air 10 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, while burning 360 calories in the process. (Bikes Belong Coalition)
Bicycling for transportation can reduce mortality by 35 to 40%. (Bikes Belong Coalition)
The average American household spends over $8,000 per year on owning and driving their cars. It costs about $300 a year to maintain a bike. (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
Despite having only 5% of the world’s population, vehicles in the US contribute 45% of the world’s motor vehicle greenhouse gases. (Environmental Defense Fund)
Amtrak revenues cover nearly 80% of the company’s operating cost. (Amtrak)
89% of US passenger transportation uses highways, compared to the 0.6% that uses rail service. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
The average American household will spend $2,200 on gas each year. (Transportation for America)
Forty percent of all trips in America are two miles or less. Seventy-four percent of these trips are made by car. (Transportation for America)

Primary links

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Alternative fuel

Alternative automobile

State-of-the-art transit systems

Advanced roadways

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Roadway Design

Urban issues

Transportation choice

Policy

Model cities for transportation

Resources