Examining NHTS Data: The Correlation between Health, Gender, Racial Background, Physical Activity, and Bicycle Usage

Bicycling is experiencing rapid growth as a mode of transportation in the United States. Cities are actively working to enhance the safety and appeal of biking, with these initiatives easing traffic congestion on roads and in public transit, promoting a cleaner environment, and encouraging physical activity. A better understanding of cyclists' travel habits could assist researchers in examining trip frequency in various scenarios. To address this, the study employed a regression model to analyze the correlation between bikers' race, physical activity, health, and gender as independent variables and the number of biking trips as the dependent variable. The findings revealed a significant correlation between health, gender, and physical activity, serving as independent variables, and the frequency of cycling trips, the dependent variable. However, there appears to be a minimal connection between race and the frequency of cycling journeys. This research provides valuable insights for transportation planners and decision-makers, enhancing their understanding of how health, gender, race, and physical activity impact cycling trip frequency.