Everyone can agree that…

Everyone can agree that traffic in our cities can be improved. However, bike lanes are an essential part of the solution, and the removal of already-implemented bike lanes would be a misallocation of taxpayer funds. Many commuters - myself included - are multi-modal, meaning we use transit, ride bicycles, and drive cars. Each time such a commuter decides not to drive, because a better alternative is available, we are alleviating traffic congestion. The opposite is true if more car lanes are provided, as the increased road capacity is always filled - a proven phenomenon known as induced demand.

In many cases, bike lanes were not installed at the expense of vehicle lanes, but parking or excess space in the roadway. Bike lanes are also an important part of road safety measures (outside of rush hour when vehicles are moving faster) such as wider sidewalks and planters, which ultimately improve the street for all users and local businesses. Without bike lanes, cyclists will ride in the vehicle lane (as they are legally permitted to do) and pedestrians will have less of a buffer to vehicle traffic, making streets less safe for all.

We are also rapidly intensifying our transit corridors with high-rise housing development with little to no parking - and rightfully so, given the housing crisis. We must build the necessary infrastructure to support this new housing, particularly improved bicycle and transit infrastructure.

If we are serious about improving traffic, let’s approach the problem holistically and implement measures that will actually make the best use of the limited road capacity in our growing cities. Bike lanes are essential in core city areas where we cannot easily build new roads or highways. We must keep them and continue to develop other alternatives to driving for commuters as well, such as improved transit and congestion pricing.