Nearly three-quarters of the population agreed that the federal government should promote cycling.
A proposal to make bike infrastructure a constitutional authority passed in Switzerland with 73.6 percent of the vote, reports Domhnall O'Sullivan in SwissInfo.
Switzerland is not a "cycling mecca" like Denmark or the Netherlands, O'Sullivan says. About 8 percent of its population cycles regularly.
But awareness is growing about the relationship of transportation choices to health, environmental, and social concerns. Politicians also hope an increase in bike ridership could relieve overcrowding on public transit. And meanwhile, deaths and injuries of cyclists are rising.
The vote gives the federal government more authority for bike routes throughout the country. "In practice, this will likely involve coordinating standards of bike paths across the country, as well as taking on tasks like the geo-mapping of routes," O'Sullivan explains.
A similar statute regarding pedestrian infrastructure was approved in 1979.
FULL STORY: Bikes coast into Swiss constitution with clear voter support
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
E-Bikes and the Bike Infrastructure of the Future
What will the future hold for cycling and bike infrastructure? With the introduction of e-bikes, the landscape of cycling, and even the definition of a bike, is changing.
Philadelphia Adds 10 Miles of Bike Lanes in 2022
The city is nearing its 2015 goal of building 30 miles of protected bikeways.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
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.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
