Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Reboot Oxnard on January 27, 2014 at 12:52am

That isn't what is says, at all. What you are seeing is a display of the "primary means of transportation to work" for most people in a census tract, which biking never is. No surprise: in most parts of the city, most people drive to work. In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit. In a few really high density areas, most people walk. In nearly every part of the city, some people use a bike as their primary means of commuting to work but you can't see how many unless you click through and view the actual interactive map.

If you click through to the actual map you will see a lot of additional detail. Mouse over any census tract and a box gives you the breakdown of all the transit modes for that area. I haven't drilled through all the data but - as one might expect - the number of people who bike to work varies by census tract from zero percent to as high as about 8 percent. My guess is that today, with an expected high of -6 and 15mph winds (so a wind chill of something approaching absolute zero when you add the speed of the bike) even most people that normally bike to work will find an alternative.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on January 27, 2014 at 4:28am

Are you looking at the same map? My reading of that map suggests that in lower income areas (that is most of the south and west sides), people only take transit who live very close to some kind of rail transit station. 

Reboot Oxnard said:

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In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit

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Permalink Reply by Minh on January 27, 2014 at 4:51am

 I was a bit extreme with my assertion, but you can't say that bicycle use for commuting according to this data is even close to significant.

Reboot Oxnard said:

That isn't what is says, at all. What you are seeing is a display of the "primary means of transportation to work" for most people in a census tract, which biking never is. No surprise: in most parts of the city, most people drive to work. In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit. In a few really high density areas, most people walk. In nearly every part of the city, some people use a bike as their primary means of commuting to work but you can't see how many unless you click through and view the actual interactive map.

If you click through to the actual map you will see a lot of additional detail. Mouse over any census tract and a box gives you the breakdown of all the transit modes for that area. I haven't drilled through all the data but - as one might expect - the number of people who bike to work varies by census tract from zero percent to as high as about 8 percent. My guess is that today, with an expected high of -6 and 15mph winds (so a wind chill of something approaching absolute zero when you add the speed of the bike) even most people that normally bike to work will find an alternative.

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Permalink Reply by Jared on January 27, 2014 at 5:38am

What if people bike only in nice weather?  Do they count?  It might only count what people do the majority of the time so fair weather commuters don't show up.

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Permalink Reply by Tricolor on January 27, 2014 at 6:14am

You'll never have enough of a majority for bikes to show up on that map, though it's nice to see with all the transit options the north shore doesn't drive much.

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Permalink Reply by David Altenburg on January 27, 2014 at 7:26am

In the tract around Wabansia and Albany (just north of Humboldt park), the bike share is 21%. 

I live just north of that, and we have a 10% bike mode share. I think lack of close public transportation options is the primary reason. 

The data source for this info is the American Community Survey, which, if I correctly understand it, understates bike commuting by requiring respondents to choose a single mode. 

That means that someone who bikes 2 miles to a CTA stop and rides the CTA 5 miles is not included in cycling numbers. Someone who bikes to work in May-Sept but drives the rest of the year will also not be included. And so forth...  

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Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on January 27, 2014 at 7:57am

Yea, and based on that conclusion, the entire North Side must be a total dump.

Seriously though, the blanket assumption that the south side is poor is simply incorrect.

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

Are you looking at the same map? My reading of that map suggests that in lower income areas (that is most of the south and west sides), people only take transit who live very close to some kind of rail transit station. 

Reboot Oxnard said:

...

In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit

...

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Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on January 27, 2014 at 8:00am

You're right. However, one may define significance in many ways. A small percentage of a very large number may itself be very large taken in absolute terms.

Minh said:

 I was a bit extreme with my assertion, but you can't say that bicycle use for commuting according to this data is even close to significant.

Reboot Oxnard said:

That isn't what is says, at all. What you are seeing is a display of the "primary means of transportation to work" for most people in a census tract, which biking never is. No surprise: in most parts of the city, most people drive to work. In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit. In a few really high density areas, most people walk. In nearly every part of the city, some people use a bike as their primary means of commuting to work but you can't see how many unless you click through and view the actual interactive map.

If you click through to the actual map you will see a lot of additional detail. Mouse over any census tract and a box gives you the breakdown of all the transit modes for that area. I haven't drilled through all the data but - as one might expect - the number of people who bike to work varies by census tract from zero percent to as high as about 8 percent. My guess is that today, with an expected high of -6 and 15mph winds (so a wind chill of something approaching absolute zero when you add the speed of the bike) even most people that normally bike to work will find an alternative.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on January 27, 2014 at 8:17am

Actually I'm back from SoCal and am upset about the cold weather. Here's a video I made a few days ago in shorts and a t-shirt just for you h': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPf2JSNlCAA . . . Anyway,

All I'm saying is the map suggests only that people who live closer to 'L are more likely to take the 'L, especially if they are closer to the lakefront. There is absolutely nothing here that would correlate income levels and usage of the 'L.

h' 1.0 said:

What a bizarre spin you are putting on Tony's post. Bad day, dear?
 
Tom Dworzanski said:

Yea, and based on that conclusion, the entire North Side must be a total dump.

Seriously though, you're wrong to assume the South Side is poor.

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

Are you looking at the same map? My reading of that map suggests that in lower income areas (that is most of the south and west sides), people only take transit who live very close to some kind of rail transit station. 

Reboot Oxnard said:

...

In poor or high density parts of the city, most people take public transit

...

• ▶ Reply