New research shows that bike share use has a positive impact on public health, even in less bikeable cities.
According to a new study from Colorado University–likely "the first study to quantify the public health benefits of U.S. bicycle sharing systems"–bike share systems "saved the national healthcare system more than $36 million, despite the fact that there are only about 100,000 shared bikes in the country and many are located in dangerous, car-dependent cities." Bike share users, writes Kea Wilson, "were saved a collective total of 737 'disability adjusted life years,' or years spent living with debilitating health conditions such as cancer, dementia, and ischemic heart disease, thanks to the preventative power of active transportation."
But "the life-saving potential of bike share is limited by the deadly reality of car dominance. The researchers found bike share users had a marginally higher risk of dying in traffic crashes or from pollution-related ailments compared to drivers or transit riders, although they also had a much lower risk of dying from diseases related to physical inactivity than their inactive counterparts." However, no U.S. bike share users were killed between 2007 and 2014, making it a remarkably safe travel mode. David Rojas-Rueda, one of the study's authors, says "the remaining risks of bike share can be mitigated through good Vision Zero planning. But the public health risks associated with sedentary modes such as driving are baked in."
FULL STORY: Study: Bike Share Saves the U.S. $36 Million Public Health Dollars Every Year
The E-Bike Boom Continues
The popularity of electric bikes doesn't seem to be waning as the devices outpace electric car sales by almost two to one.
Capital Bikeshare Reinstalls White House Station
The station on the White House grounds has been reinstated as part of Capital Bikeshare's push to expand the network by dozens of new stations by the end of the year.
Boston Installs New Bike Lanes as Part of GoBoston 2030 Initiative
The city wants to cut its car use in half by 2030 as part of an aggressive set of "aspirational" goals.
Which Cities Are Upzoning?
A recent study surveyed 800 jurisdictions in 50 U.S. metropolitan areas to quantify the amount of change in zoning regulations throughout the 21st century so far.
RAISE Grants Announced: U.S. DOT Shifts to a Greener Vision for Transportation
News broke early this morning the U.S. Department of Transportation had announced the first round of funding for the Biden administration's new discretionary grant funding program.
Land Costs and Housing Costs
One common argument against upzoning is that it increases land costs—but land costs rose in the most restrictive markets as well as the least restrictive ones.
Arlington County Government
Jon Stover & Associates
University of California San Diego
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Royal Oak, Michigan
City of San Carlos
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.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
