Healthy Development Measurement Toolkit

Indicator ST.3.b Proportion of commute trips made by biking

Data Source

U.S. Census 2000, American Fact Finder, Summary File 3. Census variables used: ‘Workers 16 years and over: Means of transportation to work; Bicycle' (P030013) and ‘Workers 16 years and over who did not work at home' (P030001 - P030016).

Map data is presented at the level of the census tract. The map also includes planning neighborhood names, in the vicinity of their corresponding census tracts.

Table data is presented by planning neighborhood. Planning neighborhoods are larger geographic areas then census tracts. SF DPH used ArcGIS software and a 'centroids within' methodology to convert census tracts to geographic mean center points. We then assigned census tracts to planning neighborhoods based on the spatial location of those geographic mean center points and calculated the planning neighborhood totals for the table.

Detailed information regarding census data, geographic units of analysis, their definitions, and their boundaries can be found in the HDMT at the following links:

http://www.thehdmt.org/etc/Geographic_Units_of_Analysis.September_2009.pdf

http://www.thehdmt.org/data_map_methods.php

Explanation and Limitations

The decennial survey of the US Census asks American workers what means of transportation they usually use to travel to work (e.g., car, bus, subway, bicycle, walked, etc.). "Usually use" is defined as the mode used on the most days in the previous week. If more than one mode is used for the trip, respondents are asked to report the mode used for most of the trip distance.

Modes of transportation used to access work are influenced by a number of factors including cost, distance, accessibility, perceived and actual safety, weather, pedestrian safety, traffic patterns, availability of bicycle lanes, hours of operation, availability of parking, and availability of travel stipends/incentives provided by work or to low income families.

Why is this a Community Health Indicator?

Biking to work helps people meet minimum requirements for physical activity. Health benefits of physical activity include a reduced risk of premature mortality and reduced risks of coronary heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes mellitus.^a Regular participation in physical activity also appears to reduce depression and anxiety, improve mood, and enhance ability to perform daily tasks throughout the life span. As a non-vehicle form of transport, bicycling does not contribute to air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions.