By Mary Velan
Gov1
What Happened?
Transportation Alternatives and local New York City officials recently called for the city to build protected bicycle lanes at key intersections where cyclists are more likely to get injured. Many cyclists feel vulnerable and exposed when navigating the hectic New York City streets. The advocacy group argue protected bike lanes along the busiest city corridors are a necessity in a community with a growing cyclist population.
Bikes Everywhere
Manhattan Councilman Corey Johnson expanded on the idea of protected bike lanes along the busiest streets, demanding the protection be afforded to cyclists throughout the city. By adding continuous protected bike lanes on every avenue, the city would slowly piece together a bicycling network able to accommodate resident demands.
Transportation Alternatives reports 10 percent of New York City’s traffic is comprised of bicyclists, and that number is expected to increase in the near future. When Transportation Alternatives surveyed local cyclists, the organization found women are twice as likely to use safer, protected bike paths than regular bike lanes - thus many cyclists may not be on the road due to a lack of protection and safety.
Norfolk Bike Plan
Norfolk, Virginia, is also rolling out a bicycle initiative -the Norfolk Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan - which lays out how the city plans to create a network of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, paths and walkways along 12 key corridors. The initiative is expected to cost $17 million and potentially benefit the growing number of local cyclists as well as the municipal government. The city expects the connected bike network would attract young talent to the community, thus raising tax revenues, Hampton Roads reported.
Copenhagen Smart Street Lights
Always a step ahead of the game in bicyclist amenities, the city of Copenhagen has implemented energy efficient street lights designed to keep bicyclists safe. About 20,000 of the city’s outdoor lights will be outfitted with LED bulbs that will reduce energy consumption by 57 percent, roughly the annual consumption of 4,500 Copenhagen homes. The project is just one piece of a larger plan to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025, BBC reported.
But the new streetlights will do more than just save energy - they will include communication modules that connect to a central console controlling the lights. The central unit will be able to dim the lights at certain times during the night when traffic is scarce. The technology can sense an approaching cyclist and shine extra light for protection when crossing through an intersection. This smart city application will enable the lights to respond to activity on the roads in real time so drivers and cyclists will receive safe illumination while navigating in the dark. Likewise, when the streets are empty, the lights will dim to save energy, CityLab reported.
Eugene Disaster Preparedness
While bikes are clearly becoming more popular for navigation through urban environments, the transportation unit can also be valuable in emergency situations. An annual fundraising event in Eugene, Oregon, showcased the potential benefits of bicycles when emergency strikes, as many can be used to transport people and resources during a disaster when major roadways are blocked or narrowed. Most bicycles can support a rider with resources trying to move tools and essentials around a metro area when events make it difficult for cars and trucks to drive safely. The cycling community in Eugene has an awareness campaign designed to educate residents of the many safety perks owning a bike can bring, KMTR reported.
Why Bicycling Amenities Matter
According to the 2014 American Community Survey Data by the League of American Bicyclists, bicycle commuting has grown 62 percent nationwide between 2000 and 2014. Last year there was a reported 904,463 bike commuters on roads across the country, with Davis, California; reporting the highest percent of residents biking to work at 23.2 percent. As more cities adopt bicycle-friendly strategies, more residents are feeling comfortable taking their bikes to work or on other trips rather than driving a personal vehicle. This not only reduces traffic on the roads, but cuts emissions significantly while improving quality of life for residents.