Bike Lanes a Win-Win for Cyclists and Drivers

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, between 23rd 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."