When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, concerns over virus transmission on public transit prompted many to opt for alternative mobility options—chiefly, cycling. Bicycles gained popularity for both recreation and transport, a trend especially evident in the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, and France. In France, Germany, and the United States, the weekly average of bicycle use increased by 4%, 7%, and 20% respectively compared to 2019 figures.
To accommodate this shift in mobility patterns, many cities rolled out new bike lanes. In Latin America, Bogotá built an 84-kilometer network, Lima added 46 kilometers to its grid, and Buenos Aires announced plans to implement 60 kilometers. Paris, meanwhile, added 50 kilometers to its network. A recent study analyzed more than 1,000 Covid-19 response actions implemented by 500 cities, states, and national governments worldwide between March and August 2020. The research recorded over 400 instances of reallocating street space for cycling and walking.
