Cycling mode choice amongst US commuters: The role of climate and topography

Cycling to work is uncommon in most areas of the USA but relatively common in a particular set of metros and neighbourhoods. Explanations for this spatial heterogeneity often focus on differences in local geography, with some areas being allegedly more suitable for cycling. I estimate the role of topography and climate in determining the share of a metro’s workers who cycle to work and the probability a particular worker chooses to cycle. I combine a USA-wide data set of commute flows with detailed elevation and climate data. I find that climate and topography play essentially no role in explaining cycling mode share across metros. Across workers, the hilliness of a commuter’s route is found to be statistically irrelevant to cycling mode choice.