A Compelling Case for Protected Bike Lanes

A pilot project of cycle tracks on several streets in Toronto produced almost shockingly positive results for all users of the street. At very little cost, the new bike infrastructure increased total street capacity and improved safety.

2 minute read

January 17, 2019, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Toronto Bike Infrastructure

The Adelaide Street cycle track in Toronto, pictured in 2015. | Herb van den Dool / Wikimedia Commons

A report by the city of Toronto to evaluate the performance of cycle tracks on Richmond Street and Adelaide Street, as well as north-south cycle tracks on Simcoe Street and Peter Street, recommends converting the temporary installations to permanent infrastructure facilities.

The report "tells a commuting story of roaring success that was accomplished with little fanfare and even less cost," according to an article by Edward Keenan. According to the report, 730 people biked on Richmond and Adelaide streets before the temporary cycle tracks were installed in 2014. In 2018, that number had increased to 7,509 people biking on the streets every day.

"The city also monitored bike traffic on nearby streets to see if the change was a result of people taking the new lanes instead of travelling on King or Queen Sts," adds Keenan. "It found the decreases in cycle traffic on those roads was minimal, 'suggesting that 94 per cent of the growth in the number of cyclists on Richmond-Adelaide was as a result of new cyclists, shifting their transportation choice from another mode.'"

One final piece of smashing success to note here: "In the downtown core area, the bike lanes now carry almost a third of the vehicles travelling the road during the peak of rush hour, 'a higher volume of vehicles per lane than the motor vehicle lanes.'"

Additional data on improved safety and a lack of impact on trip times for cars are included in the article.

Friday, January 11, 2019 in Toronto Star

stack of books

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023

The world is changing, and planning with it.

November 24, 2023 - Planetizen Team

Close-up of 'Red Line Subway Entry' sign with Braille below and train logo above text in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side

The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

November 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Row of brick three-story townhomes in Britih Columbia.

More Affordable Housing for People, Less for Cars

Most jurisdictions have off-street parking requirements that increase motorists’ convenience but reduce housing affordability. It’s time to reform these policies for the sake of efficiency and fairness.

November 20, 2023 - Todd Litman

View of downtown Seattle with construction cranes and cloudy sky as seen from top of Space Needle.

Seattle Council Rejects Transportation Impact Fee

Councilmembers who opposed the proposal say the fee would have slowed housing development and raised housing costs.

3 hours ago - The Registry

Close-up of driver's side of silver truck with cloud of dirty emissions from tailpipe.

FHWA Issues Emissions Tracking Rule

The agency will require states to monitor transportation emissions and create plans to address air pollution.

4 hours ago - Route Fifty

Close-up of bus driver from behind with only hand visible on steering wheel.

FTA Proposes Measures to Prevent Transit Operator Fatigue

Public transit is the only type of transportation not already subject to ‘hours of service’ and fatigue risk management regulations.

6 hours ago - Safety & Health

Assistant/Associate Professor in Indigenous Planning

University of New Mexico - School of Architecture & Planning

Principal Planner

Placer County

Coastal Program Analyst III

San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC)

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.