The Global Shift Towards Bikeable Cities

Yet here was my own neighborhood, taking away a lane for cars and giving it to cyclists. It’s part of an effort spreading across New York and cities around the US and the rest of the world, to carve out meaningful, safe space for residents who prefer to get around on two wheels rather than four. And it’s one of the best, most optimistic movements in urban development, one that can make cities cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable.

In central London, as the Economist wrote recently, bikes now outnumber cars two-to-one at peak hours. In Montreal, more than a third of people cycle at least once a week, and use of the city’s bike-share program has doubled since 2019. In Copenhagen, bike trips make up almost half of all commutes. And New York has built the world’s largest bike network, with 1,550 lane miles, 555 protected lanes, and more on the way. With its Citi Bike program, NY has the largest bike-sharing system in the US.