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.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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