What Does it Take to Create a Bike Lane City Infrastructure?
Creating a bike lane city infrastructure requires the coordination of the appropriate government agencies, resources, and construction logistics. It’s a time-intensive ordeal; however, the benefits are many for cities that are suffering from intense air pollution, overcrowding, and congestion. Bike lanes alter the city infrastructure and also improve the health of inhabitants.
Portland State University noted that when five major US cities incorporated protected bike lanes into their city infrastructure, bike ridership increased 170 percent.
Cycling infrastructure refers to the network of roads, streets, bike paths, sidewalks, and more that are used by bikers to get around a city or a town. This can also include bike racks, specialized traffic signs, and signals. This cycling network can make all the difference in the efficiency and safety of the bikers who use bikes as their main transportation.
Environmentally, there’s a call by many big cities to increase their plans to eliminate emissions, and this can mean implementing a bike lane infrastructure. The University of Colorado at Denver shared from a study of 12 US cities that cycling with protected bike lanes made the street safe for all users. This is beneficial for drivers and pedestrians while also helping to diminish air pollution.
Bike Lane Infrastructure Costs
Protected bike lanes can become an important component of cities that are committed to improving air quality and lessening climate change. However, the cost of protected bike lanes can be exorbitant, costing up to $445,000 per mile.
Demonstration Projects
One way that cyclists and community supports are showing the benefits of bike lanes is by implementing them. For example, newly-created bike lanes on the street from the Manhattan Bridge have increased bike ridership by 43 percent northbound and 23 percent southbound with car and bike collisions dropping 35 percent.
Overall, a bike lane infrastructure offers many benefits to a city that goes beyond the health and wellness of communities.
1. Bike Lanes increase Community Value
Studies reveal that when bike lanes are incorporated into city infrastructure, the surrounding home values increase. In fact, a 2006 study in Minneapolis showed that median home values increased by about $510 for every quarter of a mile. Home set nearer to bike paths were seen to have a higher home value by nearly 10%.
2. Bike commuters are healthier
Those who choose to use bike lanes to commute to work experience the health benefits of fresh air and exercise to and from work. This physical activity also helps to keep workers healthy and lessens the need for sick leave.
3. Protected Bike Paths attract talent
The future workforce is more and more interested in protecting the environment and less interested in driving than ever before. Bikes are returning as an ideal transportation option for younger generations who are looking to cut expenses, exercise, and care for the environment all at once.
4. Biking saves money
Replacing a car trip with a bike saves both the government and individual money! Researcher Todd Litman from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute analyzed the pros and cons of both types of transportation from the perspective of congestion, roadway cost savings, vehicle expenses, parking costs, air pollution, energy, and traffic safety. He estimated bike commuting saves $2.73 per mile.
Creating a bike lane city infrastructure can be so beneficial to the overall quality of life for the city occupants and the earth. At StrongGo, we believe in making the world a more accessible place, and we do that by creating reliable and durable detectable dome tiles.