Field work

My thesis field work involved visiting four U.S. cities, selected because of broadly similar demographic characteristics combined with substantially different cycling rates. I met with city officials and bike communities in each city, observing how the use of the bicycle manifested differently in different places.

The skyline of downtown Austin, seen across the river with greenery in the foreground — Austin

Population: 912,791

Median income: $56,351

Median age: 32

Density: 3520/sq. mi.

White: 49.7%

Black: 7.2%

Hispanic: 34.0%

Asian: 6.1%

Trees in front of several large buildings in downtown Charlotte at sunset — Charlotte

Population: 809,958

Median income: $51,034

Median age: 33.3

Density: 3273/sq. mi.

White: 42.9%

Black: 35.2%

Hispanic: 13.9%

Asian: 5.4%

Population: 835,957

Median income: $44,426

Median age: 32.3

Density: 3976/sq. mi.

White: 58.4%

Black: 26.9%

Hispanic: 6.1%

Asian: 4.5%

Population: 407,207

Median income: $50,573

Median age: 32.1

Density: 7418/sq. mi.

White: 60.0%

Black: 17.9%

Hispanic: 9.7%

Asian: 6.2%