How are cities adapting to accommodate greater bicycle use?
Cities have always been busy and densely populated. People flock here for work or opportunities that arise to socialize and be entertained. However, in the modern world, a large population comes with big traffic problems, especially if a lot of people try to drive cars. This can be a particular problem in older cities that were never designed to accommodate cars – narrow streets and one-way systems can quickly lead to a build-up.
Bicycles can come here as a potential solution to both reduce traffic and reduce carbon emissions. They allow people to move quickly in a compact urban space and do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It benefits our health as well as the planet – in addition to walking they are ready to offer £20-100m air quality benefits over the next few years.
Unfortunately, cycling in cities can be dangerous and impractical without the right infrastructure to support it. Here, we look at what cities need to do to make sure people feel the benefits of pedal power.
Cycle paths
Separating bikes from cars and other vehicles is the first step to ensuring cyclists can pedal freely and safely. Not only do they reduce the risk of accidents for cyclists, but research has shown that bike lanes can actually reduce accidents on the road overall. In fact, bicycle facilities act as a road traffic calming measure.
Lanes with physical barriers are often better than lanes that are simply demarcated on the road. These separate lanes mean that cyclists are not pushed into the road by other cyclists, nor can cars force their way into the cycle lane. They can also be reassuring for parents trying to cycle with their children. Multi-use lanes for pedestrians and cyclists may initially be seen as a good use of space, but they often do not take into account that part is accidentally pushed onto the road.
Ideally, cycle lanes should have enough space for cyclists to pass safely, rather than just single file.
Bicycle signal lights
These small traffic lights are placed at cyclists’ eye level, so there is no confusion as to who should go there. They turn green a little earlier than the main traffic lights at junctions, so cyclists can get a head start on cars. This means that cyclists can continue straight on at junctions without risking cars entering the road they are crossing and knocking them off their bikes.
Bike lights are already commonplace in European cities such as Copenhagen. They increase the predictability of who goes where in a busy environment and provide a better experience for cyclists and vehicle users.
Bike room
Having secure and accessible bike storage is essential for cities adapting to greater bicycle use. Imagine if you weren’t sure your car would be there every time you returned from a trip – you’d never use it. Although bikes are less expensive than cars, that doesn’t make them any less valuable to their owners as a form of transportation.
Businesses need to ensure they have plenty of storage options for their employees, so that cycling is a viable transportation option. In addition, there should be plenty of bicycle parking spaces in public places, such as train stations and supermarkets, as well as near parks and shops. In public places this storage may need to be outdoors and simply consist of a range of bike racks, but in private office car parks businesses should look to go the extra mile.
Locked bike rooms with an access code can reassure employees that only their colleagues will be able to access the bikes, while keeping them dry. Offices should also ensure that there are changing rooms for employees to use and lockers to store sweaty gear.
to summarize
In any modern and sustainable city, cyclists must be treated as a priority and their safety must be integrated into the design of the city. Although bike lanes can be a bit more difficult to incorporate quickly, they should be added where possible and included in any new road design as a city expands. Bike lights and bike storage can be added to existing infrastructure relatively inexpensively, but they make a big difference when it comes to the adoption of cycling as a mode of transport.