A more than 400 percent increase in bike ridership following the opening of a protected bike lane on Second Avenue proves that Seattleites are more inclined to ride with safe facilities.

Part of an ongoing project to improve bikeability in Seattle, WA, a "project began with a pilot in 2014 to convert a regular painted bike lane on Second Avenue into a curb-and-landscape-protected bike lane," reports Angie Schmitt. The now protected lane extends through hilly downtown Seattle and features a physical barrier in the form of planter boxes and barricades separating bikes and cars.
The increased ridership is a great success for proponents of bike safety in Seattle. During her tenure to date, Mayor Jenny Durkan has cut plans for many similar projects including, "a bike lane on 35th Avenue NE, a dangerous thoroughfare which has been proposed for bike lanes for a decade." While the Second Avenue Bike Lane cost about $12 million (the most expensive bike lane in Seattle history) and required significant utility movement, hope remains that proof of the "game-changing power of a protected lane versus a painted lane" won’t end with this project.
FULL STORY: Ridership Jumped 400% When Seattle Protected a Bike Lane

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie