Data & Safety Statistics

Accurate data and statistics drive the work of advocates like you and us—these are important tools as we lobby for improved bicycling in South Carolina. Below are a few go-to resources that are a must for any advocate.

Alliance Benchmarking Report

On a biennial basis, the Alliance for Biking and Walking releases the U.S. Bicycling and Walking Benchmarking Report. This project is an on-going effort spearheaded by the Alliance for Biking and Walking to collect and analyze data on bicycling and walking in all 50 states and at least the 50 most-populated U.S. cities. The Benchmarking Report is an essential resource and tool for government officials, advocates, and those working to promote bicycling and walking. The Alliance continues to expand the scope of this project while refining its methods. This first biennial report was released August 29, 2007. Through the ongoing Benchmarking Project, the Alliance will publish an updated version every two years.

The 2012 Benchmarking Report was released in January, and it is available for download or purchase. An important takeaway from the report is that while 2.1% of work trips in South Carolina are by bicycle or foot, bicyclists and pedestrians account for 11.9% of traffic fatalities in the state.

Specifically, the report shows that in South Carolina, bicycling and walking rates are low, particularly when compared to other states. In the analysis of US States in bicycling to work rates, South Carolina ranked 40th. An estimated 0.2% of trips to work in South Carolina are made by bicycle.

In terms of safety, the Benchmarking Report analysis reveals that South Carolina is the second most dangerous state in the nation for bicycling with 13.5 deaths per 10,000 bicyclists. Bicyclists account for 1.6% of all traffic fatalities in the in the state—making it one of the most riskiest state for bicycling, along with Mississippi, Delaware and Arkansas.

When compared to the national average, South Carolina spends very little on bicycling and walking investments. Just 0.6% of federal transportation dollars, or $0.95 per capita, are spent on biking and walking projects. This puts South Carolina at 46th among states for investing in biking and walking.

Finally, the impact of biking and walking on public health remains substantial. Analyzing data from 1960 to 2000 revealed that as bicycling and walking levels have plummeted in the nation, overweight levels have steadily increased and obesity levels have soared. South Carolina, which has relatively low levels of bicycling, has an overweight population of 66% and obese population of 30%.

As clearly evidenced by the 2012 report, much more remains to be done in South Carolina to allow for safe and accessible bicycling opportunities. Please continue to support us as we work to improve bicycle safety and accessibility in the state.

NHTSA Traffic Safety Report

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration releases annual Traffic Safety Reports about road users—including bicyclists (or 'pedalcyclists' as they are known). These reports review trends in the data, such as age and gender, as well as reporting the annual fatalities rates. The following are five of the most recently released reports: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The following chart illustrates how South Carolina compares to the national average for per capita bicycle fatalities in the last ten years.

In 2009, a total of 11 fatalities involved a bicycle rider, whereas in in 2008 a total of 16 bicycle fatalities occurred. This is good news, as it means a decrease in bicycle fatalities and it nears SC standing relative to the national average. Since 2000, the per capita bicycle fatality rate in SC has more than doubled the national average six years total; the above chart illustrates the significant discrepancy between US and SC bicycle fatalities per capita.

American Community Survey

The American Community Survey (ACS) is an ongoing survey that provides data every year—giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and services. One of the questions on the ACS relates to biking to work, which is important data for advocates like us so that we can better understand trends in biking.

The League does a fabulous job at digesting all of the ACS data for us, and putting it into an easy-to-understand format. Check out the bike commuter estimates for the 375 cities for which the ACS released bike commuter numbers. Also, for an easier-to-use perspective on this data, visit this interactive menu.