Bike lanes are an essential…

Bike lanes are an essential component of traffic reduction and road safety. Removing bike lanes will, in the short term, create congestion as a result of construction, and will in the long term, exacerbate traffic as cyclists are converted into drivers. This is a well-studied phenomenon of induced demand. The most effective way to reduce traffic is to invest in subways and safe bike lanes, funneling commuters into more time efficient forms of transit and off of the roads. Bike lanes are also important in preventing catastrophic and often fatal traffic accidents. Cyclist safety is a vital part of a healthy city, and needs to be prioritized to ensure that roads are safe for all and traffic is not exacerbated by accident diversions.