Figure 1.4.12 - Deaths per Billion Miles per Year

Historically, walking appears to be more dangerous than biking when examined by death rate per billion miles. However, the 2022 National Household Travel Survey showed a significant decrease in the distance biked and walked during a time that fatalities for both modes increased and their rates are now similar.

Historically, walking appears to be more dangerous than biking when examined by death rate per billion miles. However, the 2022 National Household Travel Survey showed a significant decrease in the distance biked and walked during a time that fatalities for both modes increased and their rates are not similar. The average walking trip is about three times shorter than the average biking trip.
Fatality data in this chart is based on a 5-year average ending in the year of the National Household Travel Survey used as a source for the number of trips. At the time of publication only 2021 fatality data was available and average used is for the period 2017-2021.
Chart: The League of American BicyclistsSource: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System and USDOT National Household Travel SurveyGet the dataDownload imageCreated with Datawrapper