More National Bike Month musings in the face of the pandemic

In a previous post, "National Bike Month | Will the coronavirus result in a longer term shift to bicycling for transportation?," I express some doubts that the pandemic will stoke a longer term rise in cycling for transportation.

Even though more and more cities in the US have, in response to social distancing rules and use of the public space, designated space formerly used as roads for cars as prioritized spaces for pedestrians and cyclists.

-- "Cities Close Streets to Cars, Opening Space for Social Distancing," New York Times
-- "Now, and After the Pandemic, Boston's Streets Need a Fresh Look," Boston Magazine
-- "Could the Pandemic Kill Car Culture?," Outside Magazine
-- Closed cities should open streets," Smart Growth America
-- "The Pandemic Shows What Cities Have Surrendered to Cars," The Atlantic

It's not that I don't think it makes perfect sense.  It's just the US and UK land use and transportation planning paradigm privileges driving, although the UK is different from the US in that its cities are denser, making biking somewhat more efficient compared to the suburban dominated land use paradigm in the US.

But maybe "this time it will different" at least for Britain.   A lot of discussion about this in the Guardian's Bike Blog.

-- "London cycling could increase tenfold after lockdown, says TfL"

Last week, the UK Prime Minister made positive comments on cycling, which were followed up by an announcement on Friday of more money for cycling infrastructure ("UK plans £250m boost for cycle lanes and fast-track e-scooter trials").

From "This could be the time to usher in a golden age for cycling in Britain:"

The really good news for active travel is the new statutory guidance that, where public transport use is high, local authorities should reallocate road space for walking and cycling. This is the first time a UK transport secretary has said that.

Measures can include pop-up cycle routes, including turning traffic lanes over to cycling using flexible wands, and widening pedestrian space with cones. Authorities can also restrict through-traffic near schools, residential streets and high streets, which can be done cheaply with planters and bollards. Bus- and bike-only corridors are another option, along with new 20mph zones, while councils with existing local cycling and walking infrastructure plans are encouraged to bring those forward. What’s more, GPs can prescribe cycling and exercise.

In June there will be an updated Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, with an active travel commissioner already being mooted, and a new inspectorate that could potentially ensure councils meet new higher standards for permanent infrastructure across England.

In response to the PM's initial announcement, "Ten reasons now is a great time to start cycling":

1. Remember – it’s safer than you might think.
2. You’ll be doing yourself a lot of good.
3. The health benefits massively outweigh the risks
4. You’ll be doing others a lot of good
5. You’ll enjoy it – really*
6. You don’t have to dress up in Lycra
7. Don’t be afraid to rely on bike shops
8. Maybe think about an e-bike
9. Don’t worry too much about punctures or the weather
10. One for everyone else – be welcoming and patient to newcomers

Conclusion. The UK example shows us that the best way to gain urban design-placemaking-bicycling-pedestrianization gains as a result of the pandemic is to have plans and work for their realization, such as the announcement by the Mayor of London last week, which may have spurred, at least somewhat, the action by the national government late last week.

Longer term, the issue will be to use those spaces heavily as pedestrians and cyclists, so that the gains won't end up being reversed because of lack of use and constant agitation by drivers to recapture the streets for cars.

Programming is key to spur utilization, and the challenge will be to create programming that promotes use while maintaining social distancing practices.

UK Bike Week is June 6th-14th.