ABSTRACT
This chapter’s goal is to provide a better understanding of variability and determinants of cycling in the DC metropolitan region. The biking data presented in this chapter originate from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCOG) Household Travel Survey, the US Census Bureau, and information obtained directly from local bicycling experts. During the past 20 years, cycling levels and cyclist safety have been increasing in the Washington, DC region. Since the late 1990s, all jurisdictions have greatly expanded their on-street bicycle lanes and implemented other innovative programs. Washington, DC, Alexandria City, and Arlington County have implemented more bike-friendly policies and have been at the forefront of experimenting with innovative measures. In spite of the progress, many challenges remain for cycling. Area cyclists are predominantly male, between 25 and 65 years old, White, and from higher-income groups. Cycling appears to be spatially concentrated in neighborhoods of the urban core jurisdictions that experienced strong population growth. The remainder of this chapter provides an in-depth comparison of trends and differences in bicycle planning, bicycle infrastructure, and programs across jurisdictions in the DC region.
