With bike sales soaring as people seek out safe outdoor recreation, institutional support and investment can maintain the growth of cycling as commuters start going back to work.

As Americans sought out socially distanced ways to stay active and roads were suddenly cleared of intimidating traffic for much of 2020, bicycling boomed in popularity. In the United States, bike sales grew by 62%, while e-bike sales rose by a whopping 144%. However, writes Andrew J. Hawkins, American roads have also become more unsafe in recent years, with cycling deaths increasing by 38% in the last decade. And the traffic is coming back: after dropping by close to 40% in April, vehicle miles traveled in the United States rebounded to almost-average levels(down only 9% in September compared to the same month in 2019).
To sustain the growth of biking as a mode share rather than a short-lived trend, Hawkins argues that cities must take active steps to improve bike infrastructure and make new riders feel safe on the road. He suggests the federal government can fund programs that direct money toward bike lanes and offer tax credits for bike purchases to incentivize consumers, while cities can expand upon pandemic-prompted "slow streets" programs and temporary bike and pedestrian improvements. "It will be a turf war, as bikes will need to take physical space away from cars to maintain any forward momentum," Hawkins predicts, but the advances of 2020 gave us a glimpse into a world where two-wheeled transportation gets serious institutional support.
FULL STORY: How to keep the bike boom from fizzling out

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