Comparison of before and after counts of vehicular volume-to-capacity ratio shows replacing car lanes with bike lanes may not adversely impact vehicle traffic when bike lanes are constructed on less congested streets.
Gretchen Johnson and Aaron Johnson seek to answer how new bike lanes impact drivers, especially when they take the place of an existing vehicle lane: “It seems that unless a ton of people start commuting by bicycle, giving away a lane would cause increased car traffic. But is this really the case?”
By comparing vehicular volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio before and after bike lanes have been added, Johnson and Johnson reveal that: “Taking away a lane does significantly increase the estimated V/C ratio during rush hour...But it’s not at a high enough V/C ratio where traffic will get really congested and start slowing down.”
Their recommendations regarding where to place new bike lanes: “Bike lanes don’t cause a lot more congestion if you put them on the right streets…if you start with roads that are well under capacity, you’ll only increase the congestion a little bit. And it may not even be noticeable.”
FULL STORY: Bike Lanes Don’t Cause Traffic Jams If You’re Smart About Where You Build Them

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

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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