Trend: Steady
Usage of pedestrian networks.
Bike/Walk as Primary Commute Mode, 2007-2013
| Year | Live in Arlington | Work in Arlington |
| 2007 | 5% | 2% |
| 2010 | 7% | 3% |
| 2013 | 7% | 5% |
Pedestrian Trail Counts, 2010-2013
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Total | 133,255 | 646,400 | 1,259,964 | 3,209,729 |
| W&OD East Falls Church | 142,885 | 127,411 | 205,670 | |
| W&OD Columbia Pike | 186,744 | |||
| W&OD Bon Air West | 237,365 | |||
| W&OD Bon Air East | 227,368 | 263,623 | 301,566 | |
| Roosevelt Island Bridge | 376,611 | 238,292 | ||
| Mt. Vernon Trail DCA | 269,576 | 156,196 | ||
| Key Bridge West | 370,500 | |||
| Key Bridge East | 828,340 | |||
| Custis Trail Rosslyn | 133,255 | 137,319 | 14,2675 | 140,642 |
| Custis Trail Bon Air | 138,828 | 80,068 | 155,060 | |
| Crystal City Connector | 210,098 | |||
| Ballston Connector | 179,256 |
Description
This measure looks specifically at the percent of commuters, both those living in Arlington and those working in Arlington, who use biking or walking as their primary mode of transportation. Also measured is the count of pedestrians utilizing the twelve county trails.
Importance
Transit depends on accessible pedestrian pathways. The overwhelming majority of transit riders walk to and from transit stops. Measuring the use of pedestrian trails and the percent of commuters who walk to work can show the growth in usage of walking as a form of transportation in Arlington County. Tracking usage of pedestrian trails and the percent of pedestrian commuters can show whether Arlington's policies are successfully incentivizing walking as a form of transportation. Increasing the number and percentage of trips that are made by bike helps to decrease reliance on and congestion of Arlington's roadways while improving residents' and workers' mobility. This measure supports the MTP Goal 1: Provide High‐Quality Transportation Services and Goal 2: Move More People Without More Traffic.
Current Status
The percent of Arlington residents who commute by biking or walking remained steady at 7 percent between 2010 and 2013.
The percent of Arlington workers who commute by biking or walking increased from 3 percent to 5 percent between 2010 and 2013.
Counters on Arlington trails recorded over 3.2 million pedestrian users in 2013. The highest pedestrian counts were recorded on the Key Bridge sidewalks with over 800,000 persons recorded walking over the bridge in 2013. Pedestrian traffic may be higher on sidewalks in other parts of the County, however full-time counters are currently only installed on bicycle and pedestrian trails.
Data Source
- MWCOG Commuter Connections State of the Commute Survey, Summary Results for Arlington County (2007, 2010, 2013)