At the bottom end of the spectrum are cities with less than two percent of residents commuting on public transit, and less than a single percent walking to work.

Denver, with a five percent commute-to-work rate on public transit, has plans to increase that figure four or fivefold over the next decades through ambitious transit-oriented development.

The advantages of car-free commuting are clear: less gasoline use per resident, safer streets, more vivid and bustling downtowns, and….deep breath… cleaner air.

Bicycle and train culture are set to become a back-to-the-future American "Mega-Trend" in 2009 and beyond. Our data shows that between 2004 and 2005 (the latest Census data available), bicycling across the 50 largest cities increased by 12.3 percent. Given what we've seen on the street around the country, and keeping tabs on gas prices using GasBuddy.com, we remain virtually certain that bicycling will become an increasingly common -- and socially accepted -- way to get around. Not to mention, it will help our country's overall physical fitness: no more driving to the gym! Finally, we'll realize reduced global warming-inducing CO2 emissions.

Taking public transit (trains, buses, ferries) to work increased by a meager yet respectable 1.59 percent. We chalk up this difference versus other modes to the ease of switching from solo car commuting to cycling or carpooling. Bicycles are cheap and cars are already there. You can't go out to WalMart and buy a commuter train yet -- at least not on your own. Plus, trains no longer exist in many major American cities and it’s no easy feat to get a train system up and running, even after it’s been approved. (Think land purchase, laying down tracks, purchasing trains….you get the idea). Lucky residents in Phoenix will be able to catch a ride on their city's new light rail by Christmas 2008. Thank you Santa!

Moving along: Walking to work increased countrywide in 2008 by 7.08 percent. And carpooling to work increased by 6.35 percent.

Although higher energy prices surely play the largest role in all these upswings, changing demographics (more elders, singles, and falling wages) are not bit characters to the mobility scene.

Movers and Shakers

Most Improved: Albuquerque (+17), Columbus (+12), San Diego (+11), Sacramento (+10), Mesa , (+9)

Least Improved: Houston (-8), Louisville (-8), Jacksonville (-8), Tulsa (-9), Arlington , TX (-11)

RAW DATA: BICYCLING TO WORK

Top 5 Cities for Bicycling

• 3.47% Portland, OR *
• 2.42% Minneapolis, MN
• 2.31% Seattle, WA
• 2.24% Tucson, AZ *
• 1.85% San Francisco, CA*

Whatever you thought about bicycling as a kid, it's back into vogue in the States. Although not nearly as popular as during the "Gay Nineties", pedaling around for everyday reasons has been common in these mostly League of American Bicyclist-recognized(*) cities for some time now.

Bottom 5 Cities for Bicycling

• 0.13% San Antonio, TX
• 0.12% Omaha, NE
• 0.10% Indianapolis, IN
• 0.08% Memphis, TN
• 0.02% Kansas City, MO

Just because these cities are lagging doesn't mean they can't improve. Any city can give bicyclist access a serious look, develop a plan, and create a more cycle-friendly environment.

RAW DATA: WALKING TO WORK

Top 5 Cities for Walking

• 12.55% Boston, MA
• 9.97% Washington, D.C.
• 9.59% San Francisco, CA
• 9.44% New York, NY
• 8.05% Philadelphia, PA

Also as seen on WalkScore! These cities have graceful public spaces, short blocks, connected neighborhoods, and dense, mixed use zoned districts.

Bottom 5 Cities for Walking

• 1.49% San Antonio, TX
• 1.39% Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
• 1.36% Oklahoma City, OK
• 1.09% Forth Worth, TX
• 0.85% Arlington, TX

We surmise that the 5 laggards here need more sidewalks, interesting trails which lead to popular destinations, and less sprawled development, at least in their respective ostensibly downtown areas. To be fair, these sunbelt cities were developed during the post-World War II era of suburbanization of cheap gasoline and electricity. What will they do next?

RAW DATA: CARPOOLING

Top 5 Cities for Carpooling

• 16.70% Mesa, AZ
• 16.24% Phoenix, AZ
• 15.72% Sacramento, CA
• 15.61% Honolulu, HI
• 15.08% Fresno, CA

This amount of carpooling indicates cities ripe for installation of light rail rapid commuter systems, or in the case of Fresno , a significant migrant agricultural workforce.

Bottom 5 Cities for Carpooling

• 8.29% San Francisco, CA
• 8.09% Kansas City, MO
• 7.70% Washington, D.C.
• 7.29% Boston, MA
• 6.08% New York, NY

In dense, walkable cities with world-class rapid transit, it makes little sense to circle downtown blocks looking for expensive and rare parking spaces, dodging pedestrians. Kansas City is currently the exception to the rule.

RAW DATA: PUBLIC TRANSIT USE

Top 5 Cities for Public Transit Use

• 54.63% New York, NY
• 37.72% Washington, D.C.
• 32.66% San Francisco, CA
• 31.65% Boston, MA
• 25.92% Philadelphia, PA

With the exception of Washington , D.C. , every city here grew up in the horse and buggy days, with streetcar rail systems. The District of Columbia is part of the 1960-70s "graduating class" of newly subway-enabled cities, along with Atlanta (MARTA) and San Francisco Bay Area cities San Francisco and Oakland (BART). BART reaches regional airports, commuter rail systems CalTrain, ACE and Amtrak, and someday it may even roll down to suburban San Jose . Atlanta is planning to extend MARTA with its back-to-the-future PeachTree Street Trolley and improved bus service.

Bottom 5 Cities for Public Transit Use

• 1.07% Fort Worth, TX
• 1.03% Tulsa, OK
• 0.97% Oklahoma City, OK
• 0.54% Virginia Beach, VA
• 0.40% Arlington, TX

Surprise! These southern cities would benefit from re-installing light rail systems. Adding rail would provide residents relief from high gas prices -- and improve these cities' economic competitiveness. With air-conditioning thrown in, light rail would also provide relief from summer humidity.

Learn More:

• APTA 2008 Public Transit Factbook (pdf!)
• American Public Transportation Association advocacy group
• Transportation for America advocacy group
• Light Rail Now news site
• StreetsBlog news site

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