Californians Cycle for Fitness and Fun, Rather Than Transportation – Canyon Survey Reveals

Our statewide survey reveals that 63.5% of California residents at least occasionally ride a bicycle, but among these cyclists, usage patterns vary dramatically—only 10% ride daily while many cycle just a few times per month or rarely. This frequency distribution points to a population that embraces cycling in principle but faces practical challenges in making it regular transportation. Understanding these patterns across California's diverse regions offers crucial insights into the barriers and motivations that shape America's largest state's cycling future.

Particularly striking is how consistently Californians prioritize leisure cycling over practical transportation. This preference aligns with California's vibrant cycling club culture and recreational infrastructure, raising questions about whether this stems from infrastructure design or cultural attitudes toward cycling.

California's cycling culture has evolved along leisure rather than practical lines. Nearly 70% of active cyclists ride primarily for exercise and fitness, with recreation following at 57%—revealing that personal health and enjoyment far outweigh transportation needs. Most tellingly, only 11% use cycling for commuting to work or school, representing massive untapped potential for practical cycling adoption. Addressing this recreation-transportation divide could significantly enhance cycling's contribution to California's daily mobility needs. 

While fitness dominates current cycling culture, significant potential exists for conversion. Better cycling infrastructure and safety measures would motivate 34% of Californians to replace car trips with cycling—directly addressing the top barrier identified earlier. Health and fitness benefits follow closely at 31%, while economic pressures show growing influence, with rising gas prices motivating 27% of residents. However, nearly 22% of Californians remain unmovable regardless of interventions, representing a substantial segment that may be unreachable through policy changes alone.

California's cycling infrastructure receives mixed reviews overall, with 45% of residents rating it as good or excellent while 35% consider it merely moderate. However, regional patterns suggest significant disparities, with survey data indicating up to a 54-percentage-point gap between Gold Country's 81% satisfaction and Sierra Nevada's 27%. Coastal regions appear to outperform other areas, with North and Central Coast both showing satisfaction levels exceeding 55%, while rural and mountainous areas tend to lag behind. Even major urban centers show varied results, with the Bay Area at 51% and Southern California below average at 42%, suggesting notable regional variations in cycling experiences across California.

The mixed infrastructure ratings translate directly into concrete obstacles for potential cyclists. Nearly 30% of Californians identify inadequate bike lane infrastructure as their primary barrier to cycling more frequently—a finding that aligns closely with the moderate satisfaction scores seen statewide. Weather conditions including heat and air pollution follow at 26%, while the lack of secure bike parking emerges as the third major obstacle at 25%. What's particularly striking is how multiple barriers cluster together, with distance constraints (24%) and poor route connectivity (20%) creating layered difficulties that only 15% of Californians manage to avoid entirely.

Beyond structural challenges, personal factors also influence cycling decisions. Security concerns including bike theft, time constraints (25%), and concerns about not being fit enough to cycle (21%) create additional barriers, suggesting cycling is still perceived as demanding rather than accessible everyday transportation.

Among those who have overcome the barriers to become active cyclists, safety perceptions reveal the complex reality of California's cycling environment. Two-thirds feel safe when riding (67%), suggesting that those who persist in cycling generally develop confidence over time. However, a significant gender gap persists—men feel considerably safer than women (73% vs 59%), reinforcing how cycling in California currently serves certain demographics better than others. These patterns create an uneven landscape that mirrors the regional infrastructure disparities identified at the study's outset.

California's cycling landscape shows significant regional variations and room for growth across the Golden State. While pockets of excellence exist—particularly in coastal regions and areas like Gold Country—the overall picture reveals substantial opportunities for expanding cycling's role beyond recreation. The current recreation-focused culture, combined with infrastructure challenges, presents clear pathways for improvement through targeted investments and policy changes. Addressing both the structural barriers that prevent adoption and shifting the cultural perception that cycling is primarily for fitness could unlock cycling's potential as practical transportation across California's diverse regions.

We surveyed 1,006 California residents from July 14-18, 2025, in collaboration with Civey. The sample provides representative insights into statewide cycling patterns with a margin of error of ±3.1%.

Our analysis covers ten distinct California regions: Shasta Cascades, Bay Area, Central Coast, Desert, Gold Country, North Coast, Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada, and Southern California. For cycling-specific questions about frequency, safety, and motivations, we focused on the 639 respondents who identified as active cyclists, while broader infrastructure and barrier questions included all participants. Regional breakdowns should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than definitive regional statistics due to varying sample sizes across California's diverse geographic regions.

See you on the bike.