A project touted as the "largest pop-up bike grid in the world" achieved rare levels of success on getting people on their bikes in Macon, Georgia.
"Last September, the town of Macon, Georgia installed a network of temporary bike lanes," according to an article by Helena Kotala. "In the two weeks that the lanes were up, bike traffic increased by nearly 900 percent."
The project, known as Macon Connects, was the brainchild of NewTown Macon, a non-profit that’s primary goal is to revitalize the downtown of the city. Macon was awarded $150,000 to complete the project through the Knight Foundation's Cities Challenge, a nationwide competition launched in 2015 to generate ideas to improve cities. Macon was one of 45 cities to receive funding in 2016.
The article presents the project, and its stunning results, as proof of concept that bike ridership can be achieved with a complete network of safe riding options. "In the past, the city government had put up three non-contiguous blocks of bike lanes and then claimed no one rides," explains Kotala.
The temporary experiment led to some major changes in the ways the city plans and engineers its streets.
Hat tip to Angie Schmitt for sharing the news about the success of Macon Connects. More information on the project is also available on the Newtown Macon website.
FULL STORY: If you build it, they will ride: pop-up bike lanes prove that demand exists
On Bike Infrastructure, Cities Can Do Better
Urban bike infrastructure is plagued by three related problems: design, politics, and security.
Why Bike Lanes Are Good: An Explainer for the US Transportation Secretary
Sean Duffy says there’s no evidence that bike lanes have benefits. Streetsblog — and federal agencies’ own data — beg to differ.
Austin Outlaws Blocking Bike Lanes
Drivers who park in bike lanes will receive citations of up to $300.
Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.
New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.
Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.
Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions