The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex is in a tie with Houston for the second worst traffic congestion in the country according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the US Department of Transportation. Only the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area in California is worse. Here's an excerpt from the recently released State Transportation Statistics Report (note: most recent data are from 2007).

DFW traffic congestion caused a delay of 32 hours a year per person for the entire population, not just drivers, at an estimated cost of $641 each or a total waste of $2.8 billion!

Even if we could afford to build more highways, the results of these massively expensive projects would be more cars, increased gas consumption, and increased air pollution with minimal impact on traffic congestion. Electric vehicles could reduce gas consumption and pollution, but they won't help traffic congestion one bit.

Still think automobiles are the answer for a sustainable future? We don't! That's why BikeDFW wants to raise awareness of bicycling as part of the solution to our long-term transportation needs in North Texas. When coupled with public transit and multi-modal transportation (i.e., using the train and a bicycle on the same trip) bicycling can not only reduce gas consumption and pollution, but also reduce traffic congestion. (Not to mention that riding a bike is a lot more fun than sitting in rush-hour traffic.)

Our hope is that people will start using a bicycle for utility trips (especially for those less than three miles). Doesn't it make sense to use a 20 pound vehicle and get some exercise instead of a 4,000 pound vehicle and a gallon of gas to make a quick trip to the store (or a restaurant, or a movie)?

Contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you'd like information about bike commuting or are interested in bike safety courses that can make you more comfortable riding in traffic.

The full BTS report can be downloaded and viewed at http://www.bts.gov/publications/state_transportation_statistics/state_transportation_statistics_2009/pdf/entire.pdf

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Warren   |173.57.85.xxx |2010-07-19 04:59:34 My waste is much more than 32 hours. We cannot bui ld our way out of this. Answe r 1: More mass transp ortation -- pull the highway dollars and build som ething that will work in the Metroplex. Answer 2: More alternative transportation - - bicycling, w alking, etc. It is not hard when you know how! Reply | Quote

Jim Wilson  - Place 5, Benbrook City Council / President LMRA Bi     |192.91.173.xxx |2010-07-19 18:40:50 BikeDFW, Thanks for posting this information.  "Even if we could bu ild our way out"... we ll we can't. TxDOT has no such money nor future r evenue. By their own statements... nearly all fut ure additional l anes/roadways will be Toll Roads.   A few thoughts: #1 We need to change the view that "Bicycle Comm uting" means commuti ng to work- it does not.  Bicycle Commuting is any trip which utilizes a b ic ycle instead of a motor vehicle. A trip to the st ore, the grocery , a friends house, and yes- to the  park or for recreation. Having to driv e a motor  vehicle to a city park or community center reveals  a real failure in planning. #2 No the bicycle is not the fix for all our transpo rtation troubles. The b icycle along with walkable  communities is the connection device between wh ic h all other forms of transportation have ... Reply | Quote

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