Millennials Love Bikes, Says The Gen Y Guy #NBS12

Will Generation Y be known as the Bicycle Boomers? If you ride the streets of Washington, D.C., where young professionals socialize at stoplights on their Capital Bikeshare commute home, you might think so. If you read the studies that suggest the upcoming generation is driving less than their parents — as a proactive lifestyle choice — you’d certainly think so.

And, if you study demographics, like Jason Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy, you’d have some very promising news for a ballroom full of bicycle advocates.

Jason Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy, at the National Bike Summit

Today at the 2012 National Bike Summit, The Gen Y Guy gave bicycle advocates some insight into the minds and habits of the Millenials — the 79.8 million Americans born between 1977 and 1995. According to Dorsey, bicycling fits a critical trend for Gen Y: For many, lifestyle supercedes work.

“The 79.8 million Millennials in the U.S. are a lifestyle-driven generation,” Dorsey told me. “Increasingly, we’re seeing bike usage as a symbol of that lifestyle-centric mindset. Bike usage allows Millennials to live close to work, play, friends and community while retaining the freedom Millennials desire. Combine this generational mindset with clear economic and health benefits and it’s easy to see why Millennials are gravitating towards bike-friendly areas. Forward-thinking communities and companies should act now to incorporate bike access and offerings as a tool to attract, retain, and engage talented Millennials.”

As local mayors and business leaders compete for Gen Y’s talents — and dollars — one sure bet: Get bike-friendly.

Click here to see a full interview with Jason Dorsey on the CBS Early Show.