New research ties pop up bike lanes implemented in Europe during the pandemic to increased levels of biking.
Veronica Penney shares the news: "Adding bike lanes to urban streets can increase the number of cyclists across an entire city, not just on the streets with new bike lanes, according to a new study."
"The finding adds to a growing body of research indicating that investments in cycling infrastructure can encourage more people to commute by bike," adds Penney.
The study, authored by Sebastian Kraus and Nicolas Koch and published in April by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, quantifies its findings thusly: "in cities where bike infrastructure was added, cycling had increased up to 48 percent more than in cities that did not add bike lanes."
The effect varies depending on the density of development and public transit. Denser, transit-oriented cities saw larger increases. "Paris, which implemented its bike lane program early and had the largest pop-up bike lane program of any of the cities in the study, had one of the largest increases in riders," according to Penney's explanation fo the study.
The article includes more details on the study's findings, as well as an explanation of the study's methodology. Penney also connects the study' findings to bike mobility as a tool in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
While the study focused on Europe, it's worth noting that the city of Bogotá, Colombia, also the originator of Ciclovía, was the first to temporarily expand bike infrastructure in the name of public health during the pandemic, opening 76 km (47 miles) of temporary bike lanes to reduce crowding on public transport in early March. The actions of Bogotá to increase bike infrastructure were one of the clearest, early signs of the many ways the public health responses of the pandemic would interest with issues of planning.
FULL STORY: If You Build It, They Will Bike: Pop-Up Lanes Increased Cycling During Pandemic
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.