I have done some research in this field. I have used Stat Can to show ridership in the suburbs. The social economic requirements of riders is evident. Its ten percent all around my city of Toronto, not faulting or fluctuating. The suburban populous ride their bikes not because they want to, but because they need to. Transit is three bucks a ride. People are forced to ride their bikes without bicycle infrastructure. It becomes evident with bike on car casualties in the suburbs and poor and migrant people riding their bikes in winter.
Toronto has a huge migrant population, they know bikes better then anyone, they speak the universal language of bike. We work with them, they help us with bikes and we help them with English skills.
One reason that boost bike theft is the level of impoverished ridership, the demand for used bikes on the part of the impoverished class boost bike theft. Our recycle bike groups try to under price stolen bikes for sale.
We give poor people money to volunteer in our shop, we give bikes to shelters and employment resource centers. We try to understand the poor commuter and work to meet their needs. They can teach us allot about how the city works. Relying on public transit us madness.
Give me shout if i can help you more. Im with the www.communitybicyclenetwork.org. I worked with BIKESHARE, the yellow bike program that lends bikes out to people in need. We scrapped the program just to focus on recycling used bikes and mechanical skill sharing. We also give out free cooked food cause people think and ride better on a full tank. Hehe.
