Cities Consider Promoting Bicycle Use Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

As a consequence of the COVID-19 health emergency, the way we understand urban transportation is likely to change. While concerns regarding fossil-fuel vehicles already carried significant weight before the outbreak—primarily due to their environmental impact—and sustainable transportation had already become a key issue on the urban agenda, the need for social distancing to halt the spread of the coronavirus has accelerated debates around mobility. As a result, the bicycle quickly emerged as a viable alternative for safer transit during the COVID-19 pandemic in cities worldwide.

For years, the bicycle has proven to be a resilient and environmentally friendly mode of transportation. As a form of individual transit where maintaining recommended physical distances (between 1.5 and 2 meters) is relatively simple, it has become the safest and most practical vehicle for reducing transmission risks during the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, some cities have decided to prioritize its use over public transit and private cars.

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Following a statement from the World Health Organization noting that “although cities around the world are introducing a wide range of measures to limit physical contact to prevent and slow down the Covid-19 pandemic, many people still need to move around cities to reach their workplaces where possible. (...) riding a bicycle or walking should be considered, as this helps maintain physical distance while providing some physical activity that we have not been able to do lately due to remote work or restrictions on sports and recreational activities," numerous cities have begun to promote the use of the bicycle as an authorized means of travel for individuals who must commute for essential activities or permitted exceptions.

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In response, several cities worldwide have begun planning to readapt their streets—temporarily or permanently—transforming roads previously dedicated to cars so they can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. In Berlin, for example, several districts have already begun reconfiguring public space to prioritize cycling, widening existing lanes and creating new ones. Meanwhile, Milan is planning to transform 35 kilometers of its urban space to dedicate it to cyclists and pedestrians.

In Latin America, one prominent case is Quito (Ecuador) and its Emergency Bike Lane Plan for COVID-19. Starting Monday, April 27, as announced in the Extraordinary Session of the Mobility Commission of the Metropolitan Council of Quito, the first phase of this emergency plan will launch, proposing the construction of 62.7 km of bike lanes across the city. Meanwhile, the government of Peru announced the implementation of exclusive bike lanes to ease congestion on public transit. They will interconnect existing bike paths in Lima, building a large number of lanes over the next three months that were originally planned over a five-year timeline. Additionally, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MTC), together with the Urban Transportation Authority (ATU), introduced a "Popular Bicycle" initiative to make purchasing and using this mode of transport more accessible, joining the list of cities that have prioritized bicycles as a primary mode of transit during the pandemic.

Cities around the world are already developing strategies for safe transportation. This is not only to provide a solution for residents who must leave their homes during mandatory lockdown to perform essential activities, but also to offer new solutions for future urban scenarios when, following a gradual easing of lockdowns, the public slowly reclaims public space. Will the transport measures adopted during the pandemic permanently shift habits, leading to more sustainable mobility in the long term?

We invite you to check out ArchDaily's coverage of COVID-19, read our tips and articles on working from home and productivity, and discover technical recommendations for healthy design in your future projects. Also, remember to review the latest advice and information on COVID-19 on the World Health Organization (WHO) website.