As the debate over new bike lanes pits New Yorkers against each other, people should refocus on the economic benefits the lanes can provide, argues Richard Florida.
"[L]et's get past the culture wars and face some economic facts.
Like it or not, New York has become a haven for creative class professionals - who also happen to do freelance writing, filmmaking, software developing and a whole host of other important jobs. It needs them to maintain its competitive edge in a host of fields from finance to publishing and digital media. They don't give up their lifestyle preferences as they age. They don't stop bicycling or running, for instance, just because they have children. When they put their kids in child seats or jogging strollers, traffic-free bike paths become especially important to them."
Building bike lanes, Florida argues, is an easy way to lure the creative types that help fuel the modern economy in cities.
FULL STORY: Bike lane critics are wrong: Why New York needs to make way for cyclists
Op-Ed: NYC Making Progress on Bike Network Access, Should Do More
2019 was the first year in which New York City's Department of Transportation kept affected bike lanes open during the UN's General Assembly. That should be a sign of things to come, advocates argue.
A Troubling Trend of Backlash to Bike Lanes
Some cities are going so far as to rip out protected bike infrastructure that took years of advocacy to build.
New York City Plans Street Safety Projects as Congestion Pricing Nears
With congestion pricing projected to reduce the number of cars entering Manhattan, NYCDOT plans to repurpose street space to build more pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.
Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.
Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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