Pedaling Toward Sustainability
Encouraging Short-Distance Biking in America
Fifty-two percent of trips in the United States are three miles or less. The question is how can we get more people to use their bikes instead of their cars for shorter distances?
When it comes to riding their bikes, a major public concern is safety. A 2022 Ipsos poll of 28 countries that included the U.S. showed that an average of 52% believe bicycling in their community is too dangerous. The percentage for the U.S. respondents was 51%. Simultaneously, 64% of the respondents globally and 44% of the American respondents said that new traffic infrastructure in their area should prioritize bicycles over automobiles.
The same Ipsos poll shows that the safer people feel, the more likely they would choose bikes over cars. The poll showed the U.S. in the middle of safety ranking for about 10% of the population using bikes as their main transportation for distances of 2 kilometers or 1.2 miles.
Building a bike-safe community must include street design and planning that prioritize the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users. An essential component of such a safe biking system is the exclusive bike lanes that are wide enough for bikers to pass each other if they need to and physically separate from the street traffic by permanent barriers. These lanes must be part of a network that connects neighborhoods, commercial areas, schools, and other destinations with minimal contact with cars or pedestrians. Bike racks and secure parking facilities at public buildings, transit stops, and popular destinations are additional infrastructure that need to be in place to facilitate bike use.
The Dutch experience has shown that building safe and comprehensive bike paths by themselves is not enough to move people out of their cars and onto bikes. Reducing car speeds by building speed bumps, denying cars access to certain parts of the city or streets, prioritizing bikers over drivers on selected streets, and making parking in central cities expensive are also necessary to make driving less attractive.
A new approach to urban transportation that allows safe travel on bikes requires city planners and the public to work together and to do so equitably. A cross-section of the public must see the benefits of redirecting limited financial resources to create a bike-friendly community. To build public support, there must be a community-wide campaign to promote the benefits of cycling. City planners should partner with schools, community organizations, the local media, and businesses to inform residents of the health, environmental, and community benefits of prioritizing bikes over cars in addition to proper riding techniques, traffic laws, and bike maintenance.
People, businesses, and advocacy groups should also be involved in the actual planning and decision-making necessary for designing bike-friendly initiatives. City governments must hold public meetings, workshops, and forums to gather feedback, address concerns, and build consensus around bike infrastructure projects.
Creating opportunities for residents, interested groups, and businesses to participate in the design and implementation of bike-friendly improvements can ensure long-term community support for the maintenance and future expansion of safe and efficient cycling infrastructure.
