By Tanya Mohn, Forbs<\/p>\n
New data highlight that bicyclists in the United States save at least $4.6 billion a year by riding instead of driving.<\/p>\n
The analyses were released on Friday to coincide with National Bike to Work Day<\/a>, part of National Bike Month<\/a>, which occurs each May.<\/p>\n The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is $308, compared to $8,220 for the average car, and if American<\/a> drivers replaced just one four-mile car trip with a bike each week for the entire year, it would save more than two billion gallons of gas, for a total savings of $7.3 billion a year, based on $4 a gallon for gas.<\/p>\n …<\/p>\n LaHood noted that walking and bicycling are options people want, citing a national poll released by Princeton Survey Research Associates International<\/a> in March that indicated that \u201cmore than 80 percent of Americans support maintaining or increasing federal funding for biking and walking.\u201d \u201cThe benefits of bicycling are real, and there\u2019s no arguing with the impressive ridership data,\u201d LaHood said. \u201cBicycling<\/a> is an important part of the 21st century transportation mix.\u201d<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for the full fact sheet: \u201cPedaling to Prosperity,\u201d here<\/a> for more about National Bike Month, and here <\/a>to read: New Report Finds That More Biking and Walking Do Not Increase Crash Rate.<\/p>\n