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Capital Bike Share Pays Off in Less Driving

Capital Bike Share released the findings of their November 2012 survey this week and reported that the average subscriber reduced their annual driving by nearly 200 miles since joining the system, which operates in the Washington, D.C. area.

Demographically, the 22,000 members are described as " younger, whiter, more educated, more male, and less rich." Most live within 7 miles of where they work, using the bike share system to either ride to work or catch local public transit. The average member rides 6.3 miles one way to work, ten miles less than car driving residents who live outside the District of Columbia.

Cumulatively, members have ridden 4.4 million miles on the bikes and in the process are saving 3.7 million pounds of C02 from entering the atmosphere. It's estimated that half of the trips are work-related, the rest for recreation and running errands, which translates into more local business. The report notes, "More than eight in ten respondents said they were either much more likely (37 percent) or somewhat more likely (48 percent) to patronize an establishment that was accessible by Capital Bikeshare.”

More details on the survey can be found on DC Streetblog.

SOURCE: DC Street Blogs

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