A recent study by the New York City Department of Transportation on buffered bike lane interventions showed maintained traffic speeds while cyclist safety increased.
One of the biggest barriers to implementing bike lanes in certain municipalities is their perception of slowing down car traffic. However, according to a recent study by the New York City Department of Transportation reported on by Eric Jaffe at CityLab, these urban interventions actually did not reduce car speeds, but maintained them while increasing cyclist safety.
One of the interventions studied was the 2008 and 2009 Eighth Avenue bike lanes, between23rd and 34th streets. According to Jaffe, before the treatment, "the avenue carried four travel lanes, one parking lane, one parking-rush hybrid, and an unprotected bike lane. Again, by narrowing the lanes, all five were preserved (though the hybrid became a parking lane) even as riders gained additional protection."
With the protected bike lanes in place with a buffer, DOT measured a 14 percent overall reduction in daytime travel times along the corridor. Similar results were found along many other corridors where protected bike lanes were created.
A DOT spokesperson shared with CityLab that another street redesign was adding left-turn pockets, contributing to the maintained traffic speeds. According to the spokesperson, originally, "cars turned left from a general traffic lane; in the new one, they merged into a left-turn slot beside the protected bike lane. This design has two key advantages: first, traffic doesn't have to slow down until the left turn is complete, and second, drivers have an easier time seeing bike riders coming up beside them."
FULL STORY: When Adding Bike Lanes Actually Reduces Traffic Delays
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
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.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
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
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.