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Spotted Those New Protected Bike Lanes? Get Ready For More

This article is more than 10 years old.

By Micheline Maynard

If you like in a big American or Canadian city, it's likely you've spotted protected bike lanes. They're set off from the road with plastic posts, curbs and sometimes planters, and are meant to allow cyclists a little breathing room without being threatened by traffic.

Protected bike lanes are about to get even more ubiquitous. According to Momentum Magazine, which focuses on cycling topics, the number of miles of protected bike lanes doubled in North America last year, and are expected to double again in 2013.

Momentum reports that as soon as protected bike lanes are installed, cycling activity often goes up by double and even triple digits. Here's a look at some major cities, and how much cycling went up after protected lanes were installed.

  • New York City, which has 44 miles of protected bike lanes, reports a 190 percent increase in ridership. The arrival this spring of Citi Bike, its bike sharing system,  also may be playing a role.
  • Montreal, with 40.3 miles of protected bike lanes, says cycling use has gone up 72 percent. Montreal has had the Bixi bike sharing system since 2009.
  • Chicago, with 27 miles of protected lanes, reported a 55 percent increase in ridership. Its bike sharing system, called Divvy Bikes, went into operation this summer.
  • Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Vancouver, and San Francisco trail those places with protected lanes, but all are seeing a big increase in ridership.

There has been some controversy over protected lanes. In Toronto, where the first protected lanes went into service this spring, some shop owners have protested their arrival for fear of losing parking spots. Toronto is spending $2.5 million to install the lanes downtown, and cycling advocates are pushing for the network to be expanded to city neighborhoods.