The Downtown Denver Partnership found 8.3% of all commuters bike to work—an improvement that the partnership's senior manager of economic development said could be "the most significant change we've ever seen."
An annual survey of downtown Denver commuters found that 8.3% say they bike to work, up from 6.6% a year ago. "The 2017 spike in bike commuting is “one of the most significant, if not the most significant change that we have seen” since the survey began in 2012, said Emily Brett, Senior Manager of Economic Development for the Partnership," David Sachs reports for Streetsblog Denver.
Why the jump? It's hard to say. The city has added more than four miles of protected bike lanes downtown, which may have had an impact. The survey also saw a strong association between employers offering transit benefits and employees riding bikes and transit to work, but the report doesn't offer a "silver bullet" type explanation.
"These statistics are a good weathervane but it’s important to keep in mind that they don’t necessarily reflect citywide trends," Sachs cautions. Of course, commuting isn't the only reason for bike trips (to some, biking for any kind of transport is a foreign concept). And while boosting downtown bike rates is a noble goal for the health and equity of a city, a bump in downtown biking doesn't necessarily reflect city-wide transport use.
FULL STORY: Bike Commuting Surges 25 Percent in Downtown Denver
Less Paint, More Barriers, Make for Better Urban Cycling
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Op-Ed: Downtown Denver's Homogenous Renaissance
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Denver to Step Up Its Transit Game
Recent studies find that central Denver is still woefully underserved when it comes to transit accessibility. On the table are streetscape improvements to make life easier for pedestrians and transit riders.
Houston Apartments To Be Demolished for Freeway Widening
Despite a federal hold on the controversial freeway widening project, the Texas Department of Transportation is pushing ahead with the demolition of an apartment complex in downtown Houston.
San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.
Land Banking to Prevent Transit-Oriented Displacement in Los Angeles
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State Reports Seeks To Guide Warehouse Development in New Jersey
With demand for sprawling e-commerce warehouses growing, New Jersey’s State Planning Commission has released a series of documents outlining best practices for cities examining warehouse proposals.
Manhattan Congestion Pricing Could Start in 2023
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has resubmitted its environmental impact assessment to federal officials, who sent the agency over 400 additional questions earlier this year.
Whitefish ADU Ordinance Could Ease Housing Crunch
Recently approved revisions to the city’s accessory dwelling unit regulations prioritize long-term rentals to increase housing affordability for local renters.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Rolling Hills Estates
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
City of Apache Junction
City of Helena
Gallatin County, Montana
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
