Less than Two Months before Congestion Pricing, New Data Analysis from Transportation Alternatives Shows New Yorkers Embracing Biking and Rejecting Car Ownership
Every borough now has fewer car-owning households than it did in 2020.
In October, bike ridership was up at every location where data was recorded.
Both the Williamsburg Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge saw 100,000 more bike trips each in October 2024 than in 2019, a record high for the month.
NEW YORK – Transportation Alternatives analyzed new data from New York City’s bike counters and the U.S. Census, which shows a dramatic shift in New Yorkers’ transportation choices. Across all five boroughs, bike ridership is at record numbers and the number of car-owning households is declining.
According to recently published data from the American Community Survey (ACS) – an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau – the number of car-free households in New York City is higher than in any year since at least 2012. This trend began in 2022, reversing a COVID-19 era rise in car ownership, and can be seen citywide.
Every borough now has more car-free households than it did in 2020.
57% of households in Brooklyn are now car-free.
More than 79% of households in Manhattan are now car-free.
According to bike counters maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation, in October, bike ridership was up at every location where data was recorded, with some locations showing record highs.
Some major takeaways from the October data:
New Yorkers are biking to work in the congestion pricing zone. Over the previous three months at the four working bike counters heading into the congestion pricing zone, there are more than 2,900 more daily bike trips than in 2019. Despite this, the East side of Manhattan still lacks sufficient protected bike infrastructure.
More New Yorkers are choosing bikes all across the city. Bike counts are up citywide, and some bike counters are seeing 3,400+ more daily trips than in 2019.
Ridership is booming in Brooklyn. Bike ridership on the Brooklyn Bridge was three times higher than in 2019, a record high, and both the Williamsburg Bridge and the Queensboro Bridge saw 100,000 more bike trips each in 2024 than in 2019, a record high. At Kent Avenue and North 8th Street in Brooklyn, bike ridership was 75% higher than it was in 2019 and 31% higher than it was in 2023, and at Fountain Avenue and Seaview Avenue in Brooklyn, bike ridership was 72% higher than it was in 2023.
More people are biking on Staten Island. Bike ridership coming off the Staten Island Ferry was two times higher than it was in 2023, a record high. Additionally, the last 6 months all rank in the top 6 highest bike counts for any month since counting began at this location 8 years ago and average 2x higher than the same period last year.
Queens has record levels of ridership. Bike ridership on the Pulaski Bridge was two times higher than in 2019 and 35% higher than in 2023. The last 6 months all rank in the top 6 highest bike counts for any month since counting began at this location. Despite a narrow shared path, the Queensboro Bridge saw over 3,300 more bike trips per day in October 2024 than in 2019.
Bike counters are up in the Bronx and Manhattan. At Willis Avenue and E 135th St in the Bronx, bike ridership was 20% higher than it was in 2023. On Amsterdam Avenue and W 86th Street in Manhattan, bike ridership was 19% higher than it was in 2023.
“Shifting trips out of cars and onto buses, subways, and bikes is essential to New York City’s improving climate resilience, public health, and economy. When we build the infrastructure that makes this possible, it’s clear New Yorkers will take advantage of it,” said Philip Miatkowski, Senior Director of Research and Policy at Transportation Alternatives. “It is no coincidence that the boroughs with the greatest gains in bike ridership and greatest reductions in car ownership have the most miles of protected bike lanes and the best access to public transit.”
“With congestion pricing on the horizon, now more than ever, all New Yorkers deserve the freedom to choose how they get around – and to have access to safe, affordable, and efficient transportation choices. As congestion is expected to decline citywide, City Hall has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to scale pedestrian, bike, and bus infrastructure in the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island to the levels seen in Brooklyn and Manhattan so that every New Yorker has the opportunity to save money and live in a car-free household.”
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