Since their invention, bikes have been integral to city transportation. And for good reason. Biking, especially in the city, has several benefits. By ditching a car and taking a bike, one gets more exercise, saves money, and travels in a more environmentally friendly way. Recently, biking has become increasingly favored, especially with climate concerns and the traffic problems that emerge from the car-centered philosophies of many city planners. However, one drawback to riding a bike has always been safety. Compared to a car, bikers face more risk when moving from point A to point B. This is especially true in environments where there has been less care to regulate traffic and keep bikers safe. On the other hand, several cities around the world have made significant strides to make bikers safer.
Dedicated Bike Lanes
When bikers have their own separate part of the road to themselves, everyone is safer. Sharing the same exact road with motor vehicles, with nothing separating or delineating the two, is a cause of many bike accidents. Bike lanes are one good step, but some cities have pushed to have lanes that are physically separate from the road with barriers. In some particularly high traffic areas, some cities have created bridges or tunnels specifically for bikers. This is crucial at high-traffic intersections where accidents are more likely.
Making Bikes Normal
The more drivers are accustomed to bikers being around, the safer they will be around them. Conversely, in cities or areas where bikes are rare, drivers will not be as prepared to share the road in a safe way. Many cities throughout the world have increased the presence of bikes in their cities with bike sharing programs. In addition, strong enforcement of existing bike safety laws by police and community organizations has a significant impact. Cities where these protections are taken more seriously tend to be safer for cyclists.
Making Biking Convenient
Another huge incentive for biking is when a city provides conveniences for cyclists. Designated areas for bike parking, along with repair stations (with pumps or other tools) take away some of the headaches one might have biking through the city. Always being near a place to fix up a bike is essential, as otherwise a cyclist may be stuck in a dangerous situation if they have a tire pop or go flat, or if they cannot find a safe place to park in an area primarily designed for motor vehicles.
Biking is growing in popularity. Unfortunately, cycling accidents that lead to injury and death are also increasing. In 2022, California saw nearly 9,000 cycling accidents resulting in 196 deaths. Creating bicycle friendly infrastructure is a crucial part of reducing those numbers. As cities continue to make strides in making cyclists safer, the number of people willing to commute by bike will increase. Hopefully, this will have a cyclical effect of continuing to encourage cities to build up these areas in a bike-friendly way. The benefits are multiple, and cities designed around alternate forms of transportation have a great opportunity to be aesthetically and functionally distinct in a very special way.
