![]() ![]() Most readers of this blog will be familiar with the saying: “if you build it, they will come.” And in cities that have built bike-friendly infrastructure, riders definitely have come, sometimes in huge numbers. Depending on the context, this could mean developing a network of safe bike lanes, creating bike superhighway under- and overpasses, increasing bike-carrying capacity on trains and buses, expanding indoor bicycle parking, investing in public bikeshare systems, or leveraging innovative solutions like cargo bikes and e-bikes. ![]() One critical step is to adapt transport infrastructure and services. So, how can we get more individuals to look at their bike not just as a backup vehicle, but as the go-to option for everyday commuting? More broadly, what will it take to integrate cycling firmly into our cities’ urban transport systems? Other sources have shown that, on average, cyclists spend three times more than motorists in local businesses and that the presence of dedicated cycling infrastructure in a city is typically associated with higher retail purchasing. A report published by the UK National Infrastructure Commission in 2018 boldly states that: “Cycling is now mass transport and must be treated as such.” The article points out that cyclists make cities livelier, whereas cars tend to diminish the vibrancy of our streets. In cities, a growing body of evidence points to the positive impact of cycling on quality of life and economic competitiveness. There is, first of all, a strong public health case for cycling, which the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated in one of its recent statements.Īs one of the few transport modes that can truly be considered zero-emission, cycling could also play an important part in reducing the climate impact of mobility, which currently accounts for 16% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Taking this massive global fleet of bicycles out onto city streets could bring significant benefits to people and the planet. Every second, four bikes are produced and, every two seconds, someone buys one. Yet bicycles have the potential to be so much more than the fifth wheel of urban transport.Īccording to current estimates, there are over 1 billion bicycles worldwide, and over 50% of the global population knows how to ride them. During the 1973 oil crisis, the world was fascinated with the bicycle for a moment but then quickly returned to gas-guzzling cars. Sadly, these previous love affairs with the bicycle have been short-lived. And many urban dwellers keep a spare bike at home just in case some unexpected event might affect public transport. Bicycles have been a mainstay of human transport for over 140 years and have kept communities moving through disasters, catastrophes, conflicts, and countless other events that have disrupted transport networks. This isn’t the first time people have turned to cycling in the face of a crisis. In many communities, bike shops have been granted essential status so they could remain open and serve bicycle commuters during this unprecedented time. ![]() Cities are repurposing some of their major thoroughfares to create pop up bike lanes. The result? Bicycle sales are soaring and, in markets like Australia, bikes have become as highly coveted as toilet paper! Around the world, a number of national and local governments have taken measures to support the shift to cycling. ![]() In addition, the overall decrease in car traffic and the temporary speed limit reductions implemented by some jurisdictions are making city streets a lot friendlier to cyclists. This bicycle boom is rooted in common sense: it is much easier to comply with social distancing guidelines when you’re riding a bike out in the open than in an enclosed and potentially crowded space such as a bus or a train. Photo: Lucian Alexe/UnsplashĪs the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is keeping most commuters away from public transport, cycling has quickly emerged as a safe and convenient alternative. ![]()
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