Martin Austermuhle
Photo by Glyn Lowe Photos
Capital Bikeshare users reported annual transportation savings of $819, according to the results of a 2011 survey released today. The survey of the system’s 18,000 annual users—over 5,600 of which responded—found that weekly savings amounted to $15.75, and that Bikeshare users saved a collective $15 million a year by jumping on one of the distinctive red bikes.
The survey also found that Capital Bikeshare has helped shape commuting options for its users. Sixty-four percent of respondents said that they used Bikeshare to make a trip they otherwise wouldn’t because it was too far to walk, and 44 percent of respondents made an “induced” trips—one they wouldn’t otherwise have made had Bikeshare not been available. These induced trips were to downtown D.C. (30 percent), Capitol Hill (25 percent), Shaw/U Street (20 percent), and Georgetown (19 percent). Bikeshare is also good for business, it seems. More than eight in 10 respondents said they were more likely to patronize a business that was Bikeshare-accesible.
Four in 10 Bikeshare users consequently reduced their use of cars to get around, and over 80 percent said they biked more because of Bikeshare. Additionally, of those Bikeshare users that also have access to a car, 38 percent said that they reduced their annual driving mileage 523 miles—or five million miles collectively. Bikeshare users also decreased their use of taxis, Metro and Metrobus.
Respondents said that four in 10 trips were for work, while 22 percent said they used Bikeshare for social or entertainment purposes and 13 percent to run errands or attend to personal appointments. On average, respondents made about 8.1 trips per user in the past month.
The survey also discovered who seems to use Bikeshare most—nine in 10 users are employed, and compared to all commuters in the region, they are on average younger, whiter, male, highly educated, and slightly less affluent. Most users were encouraged to join when they saw others on the bikes, but it was last year’s LivingSocial deal that seems to have brought in a significant number of new users in one go.
That’s some broken-down socialism right there, huh? The full survey summary is below.
