File under "build it and they will come."
According to an article by Charlie Sorrel, "researchers at McGill University have just published a new study detailing how better bike infrastructure encourages people to ditch their cars and commute by bike, cleaning up the city’s air in the process."
The study focuses on Montreal, comparing" car and bike trip information from 1998, 2003, and 2008, along with changes in the 'built environment,' i.e. the increase in bike lanes and other bike-friendly changes."
"The results showed that building bike lanes definitely increases ridership and reduces car commuting, which in turn leads to cleaner air," reports Sorrel. More specifically, "A 10% increase in bike accessibility resulted in only a 3.7% increase in ridership." The article includes more data from the study, including findings on the environmental benefits of the city's new bike infrastructure.
Previous studies on the connection between bike infrastructure investments and increased numbers of bike riders have focused on the quality of the infrastructure investment, i.e., bike lanes are better than sharrows at attracting new bike riders.
FULL STORY: Building Bike Lanes Really Does Get More People Out Of Their Cars
Study: The Quality of Bike Infrastructure Matters
Another study shows what should be obvious by now: the higher quality the bike infrastructure, the better the results in terms of safety and mode choice.
New Evidence of the Superiority of Bike Lanes Over Sharrows
A study presented last week to the Transportation Research Board shows that the quality of the bike infrastructure has a significant effect for commuting rates and safety.
Estimated Cost Savings of 10 Percent of People Riding Bikes: $24 Trillion
The mode share for bikes in urban environments around the world currently sits around 6 percent. A new report out of a university located in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country quantifies the benefits of 10 percent mode share.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research