Recent research suggests that cyclists of color are more likely to receive citations, but enforcement has little correlation with improved safety.

A new study from Jesus M. Barajas assesses the disproportionate impact of cycling citations on Black and brown communities in Chicago. Some important conclusions: "Tickets were issued 8 times more often per capita in majority Black tracts and 3 times more often in majority Latino tracts compared to majority white tracts. More tickets were issued on major streets, but up to 85% fewer were issued when those streets had bike facilities, which were less prevalent in Black and Latino neighborhoods."
"The high number of tickets in majority Black neighborhoods came despite having the fewest serious bicycle crashes." However, Black neighborhoods "had the highest number of serious crashes of all modes on average," in part due to having "higher shares of streets without bicycle infrastructure compared to majority Asian or white census tracts."
A spatial analysis of tickets suggests that "bicycle tickets are only weakly associated with safety needs, if at all." The study also shows that improved bike infrastructure could reduce citations. "Separated lanes appeared to have the strongest effects. On arterial streets, cyclists received citations 25% as often when there was a separated lane compared to no bicycle infrastructure."
Barajas concludes that "[r]emoving inequities in cycling infrastructure provision, while also ensuring communities are fully represented in bicycle planning processes, is crucial" to any cycling safety strategy.
FULL STORY: Biking where Black: Connecting transportation planning and infrastructure to disproportionate policing

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

San Mateo Formally Opposes Freeway Project
The city council will send a letter to Caltrans urging the agency to reconsider a plan to expand the 101 through the city of San Mateo.

A Bronx Community Fights to Have its Voice Heard
After organizing and giving input for decades, the community around the Kingsbridge Armory might actually see it redeveloped — and they want to continue to have a say in how it goes.

Houston Mayor Promises Dedicated Austin Street Bike Lane After Public Backlash
Although the one-way bike lane won’t be protected by physical barriers, the proposal is an improvement over the mayor’s initial plan to only include sharrows on the Austin Street project.
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.
Borough of Carlisle
Caltrans
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service