Bikes are awesome, so more people ought to ride them. The era of the automobile is coming to an audible close, and the quaint aesthetics of the lowly bicycle are prepared to reclaim the center stage. “Four wheels terrible, two wheels excellent”, as the famously misquoted saying goes.

A bikeable city is one that is designed and developed to prioritize the needs of cyclists, making it safe, convenient and comfortable to ride a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

Here are some key factors that make a city bikeable:

Protected bike lanes and separated cycling infrastructure: Bike lanes that are separated from vehicular traffic by physical barriers, such as curbs, bollards, or planters, make it safer for cyclists to ride on the road. Protected bike lanes also help to increase the visibility of cyclists to drivers, reducing the risk of accidents.

Bicycle-friendly streets and traffic calming measures: Bikeable cities typically have streets that are designed with lower speed limits and traffic calming measures such as speed humps, roundabouts, and chicanes. These measures help to reduce the speed and volume of motor vehicle traffic, making it safer and more comfortable for cyclists to share the road.

Bicycle parking and storage: Bikeable cities have ample and secure bicycle parking and storage facilities, including bike racks, lockers, and bike-share stations. These facilities help to encourage cycling as a mode of transportation, making it easier for people to commute and run errands by bike.

Access to public transportation: Bikeable cities are often designed with easy access to public transportation, such as buses, trains, and subways. This makes it easier for cyclists to combine biking with other modes of transportation, such as commuting to work or school by bike and then taking public transportation for longer distances.

Education and promotion: Bikeable cities often have educational programs and promotional campaigns that encourage safe cycling and raise awareness about the benefits of biking as a mode of transportation. These programs help to build a culture of cycling and encourage more people to use bikes for transportation.

Overall, a bikeable city prioritizes the needs of cyclists, making it safe, convenient, and comfortable to ride a bicycle as a mode of transportation.

*header image from Laist.com