Shaun Courtney examines the current politics surrounding gentrification and bicycling throughout the country and what planners can do to address the issue.
Shaun Courtney of Urbanful discusses the relationship between gentrification and bicycling in many American cities today. Although intended to be a safe designation of space for cyclists amid vehicular traffic, bike lane plans have caused controversy due to their perception as a step toward gentrification.
Alex Wilson, the executive director of the nonprofit West Town Bikes / Ciclo Urbano in Chicago said, "sometimes I think [bike] education and encouragement doesn’t get a fair shake. The city needs to think about the folks who will actually use all these new bike lanes. They should consider, how much is this a plan for pavement and how much is it a plan for people?" in a recent post on Grid Chicago.
Courtney believes that cities must remove the perception that bike lanes getting built in a new neighborhood are intended to attract new-comers, and propose bike lanes instead of imposing bike lanes. One way to do this is to solicit input and adjust plans according to community buy-in, and stress that the benefits of bike lanes serve “all residents regardless of status: They reduce congestion, create a safer road environment, incentive healthy behavior and create access to jobs and economic centers.”
FULL STORY: Do bike lanes gentrify neighborhoods?
New Research Explains Why Only Some Neighborhoods Get Bike Infrastructure
Canadian researchers made the case at the Transportation Research Board this past week that improved bike infrastructure and neighborhood gentrification go hand in hand. They used research gathered fromi Portland and Chicago.
Making Sure Bike Lanes Aren't Viewed as "White Lanes"
Bike infrastructure is often viewed with skepticism in minority neighborhoods across the U.S. Jay Walljasper looks at how to extend the benefits of biking to communities that often have fewer options for transportation and exercise.
Obama Library Displacement Concerns: City Council Falls Short of Local Demands
The Chicago City Council has approved an ordinance intended to protect residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the planned Barack Obama Presidential Center.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
How Transit Architecture Impacts Real and Perceived Safety
More than a third of Americans believe major transit systems are too unsafe to ride. The built environment can change that.
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
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
