More people are walking or bicycling to get to work, and this is in turn making people safer. These are two of the conclusions presented in the 2014 Benchmarking Report published by the Alliance for Biking & Walking. The report, published every two years since 2003, is one of the Alliance’s key initiatives.
The report is compiled from data from all 50 states, the 52 largest cities and, for the first time in this report, 17 midsize cities. It looks at the rate of walking and biking, accident and injury rates, the level of spending on biking and walking projects and issues, and the level of advocacy support in various regions and communities.
A key figure is the percentage of commuters who bike or walk to work, and although the number is still tiny, the report shows a steady increase: In the 2005-2006 report, the Alliance showed that nationally 0.4 percent of the population biked to work. In the latest report, the number is 0.6 percent. In large cities, the percentage biking to work has grown from 0.7 percent to 1 percent over the same period.
Alliance for Biking & Walking 2014 Alliance Benchmarking Report Official Website
Last week the nation’s three largest bicycle advocacy groups, Alliance for Biking & Walking, Bikes Belong and the League of American Bicyclists announced that the three will not seek unification at this time. The three groups, which have worked over the past several months to unify as a single advocacy group, will instead operate independently, but in close collaboration. 
This week apparel maker Primal announced that it was expanding its bicycle advocacy support for 2012, with new sponsorship for the annual Alliance for Biking and Walking Leadership Retreat. This event, to be held in September, see advocacy leaders from around the country meet in Long Beach to discuss ways to develop practices and campaigns that advocate for pedestrians and cyclists.
Since 2009 the Alliance for Biking & Walking has solicited public nominations to help shine the spotlight on those making a difference for the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy movement. This week The Alliance announced its 2012 Advocacy Award Winners who are leading the way in the “people powered movement.” 
