Active Transportation Beyond Urban Centers: Walking and Bicycling in Small Towns and Rural America

This report presents a new analysis of the 2009 National Household Travel Survey by employing five different types of rural areas and showing that in every type of rural area, walking and bicycling are already an important part of the transportation picture. Many rural small towns are choosing to invest more in promoting active transportation, and making it safe and convenient, because of the economic, health and demographic benefits these modes return. The report relates that Federal Transportation Enhancements funding goes to rural areas at almost twice the per capita rate as urban areas, demonstrating strong demand for walkable, bikeable communities across the landscape. The report includes real stories from rural communities across the country where people are walking and biking their way to strong local economies and fitness, and the towns are boosting their attractiveness to young families.