Cities are getting in the social distancing lane

One of Berlin’s extended bike lanes. Source: The Guardian

In the last month or so, the world has been flipped upside down as it has been filled with uncertainty, fear and an ever-exhausting news cycle. New restrictions and laws prohibit people from doing pretty much anything except for waiting in line to enter a grocery store. As people try to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, inspiration and hope is coming from cities around the world. People are adapting their lives and behaviours in every way, they are reconnecting with their neighbours at a distance, and creating objects to help one another through these tough times. Cities alike are also beginning to change and adapt to their new realities. 

From Berlin to Bogotá, some cities are beginning to get tactical – converting space for cars and giving it back to people walking and on bicycles to keep people at a safe distance while they adopt new movement patterns. This means that more space has to be given to these modes of transportation to comply with COVID-19 rules. Overnight, municipalities have taken away what used to be a lane dedicated to vehicle traffic or for parking and put in wider, protected bike lanes and walking lanes. 

In Berlin, local authorities in the Kreuzberg district took matters into their own hands, temporarily widening cycle lanes back in March. They argued that it would help residents on bikes keep the required 1.5-meter distance. Some bike lanes were widening while others were simply created by converting a lane of vehicle traffic with wide yellow markings and bollards. On Friday, April 10 the local council declared the pilot project a success and the City of Berlin has come out with a document to help other districts to do the same.

Berlin “popup“ bike lane.

On the other side of the world, New Zealand has become the first country to create an official government policy for funding this type of modular infrastructure. Cities in New Zealand had been testing tactical urbanism sporadically before the pandemic, but now the national government is rolling it out on an emergency-funded basis. This funding has allowed cities to widen sidewalks and carve out cycleways in a matter of days instead of months or years. Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter even stated: “When we move out of the shutdown, and people start to travel a little more, we can’t expect them to go back to crowded buses and trains at the same rate we need alternatives for people to get around.”

One of New Zealand’s extended bike lanes. Photo taken by: Paul Zinken

In South America, the Colombian capital of Bogotá has created 76 kilometres of temporary bike lanes overnight taking over lanes for vehicles. Another 41 kilometres are planned to be created once further evaluation of the current ones is completed creating a whopping 117 kilometres of new bicycle infrastructure. The lanes are semi-protected with large pylons or water-filled plastic barriers and the widths are adjusted depending on usage. A statement from the Mayor’s office said: “The bicycle, being an individual means of transport, represents one of the most hygienic alternatives for the prevention of the virus, especially in this first preventive stage in which it is recommended to avoid close contact and crowds.” Adding to that statement he continued: “... Bogotá is facing a triple threat of poor air quality, seasonal respiratory illnesses and now the coronavirus the bicycle can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and improve air quality.”

Temporary bike lane in Bogotá. Photo taken by: Gabriel L. Guerrero

All of these tactical solutions for cycling and walking can have a huge impact on the future of infrastructure in our cities. In the short term, these strategies will allow people to keep a safe distance from one another, while in the long term these pop-ups act as great pilot projects helping residents and politicians visualize the need and the effectiveness of best practice bicycle design and infrastructure to the quality of life in their cities.

Urban Resilience on two wheels in times of Crisis

A man on his bicycle during the lockdown in Milan, Italy. Source: nypost

In past times of crisis, the bicycle has come to our aid. In Mexico City, bicycles were the lifelines for many citizens after the City’s Earthquake in 2017. The wireless phone network collapsed, traffic lights stopped working and streets turned into one huge traffic jam. With the power out and few means of motorized travel, the bicycle quickly emerged the fastest and most effective option. Cargo bike brigades were seen carrying essential supplies to aid people affected by the earthquake. The bicycle truly became an important asset for citizens in Mexico City.

Residents of Mexico City using bicycles to help with aid after the Earthquake in 2017. Source: cyclingtips

Equally, in France just a few months ago the country's national rail and public transport operators went on strike – affecting millions of commuters in Paris. Parisians didn’t let this stop them, they quickly hopped on their bikes and took over the streets. The strike showed Parisians that the bicycle is a dependable and credible means of transport! This had a huge impact on the city, even after the metros and trains began to run again – the number of bicycle users continues to be exceptional, with an increase of 131% compared to January 2019.

By now, most of the world is feeling the impact of the coronavirus, which is spreading at an unprecedented speed, shutting down borders and locking down countries. The pandemic is leaving many citizens without public transportation services or afraid to use public transportation in cities that still offer the service. 

With this new global crisis, we are seeing an increase in ridership and an awareness of the bicycle as a tool to help aid citizens navigate these tricky times. In New York City, Citi Bike – the bike-sharing system – has seen a boom in March 2020 of 67% from last year. The New York City Department of Transportation is also reporting an increase of bicycle traffic of 50 percent on the bridges to and from Manhattan.  

Across the Atlantic, both Italy and Spain, the countries with the strictest lockdowns have banned all but essential bicycling on pedal and e-bikes. (Statistics of ridership is yet to be calculated, but be reassured we will bring you the numbers once we have them).

In Denmark the government is urging people to take the bike instead of public transport, asking communities to change their behaviour in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The streets are finally quite empty except for the occasional person from the health sector. The City of Copenhagen is using medical cargo bikes to distribute blood and tissue samples in order to ease the strain on the medical system. Allowing goods to move quickly within the cities creating vital access to staff, strengthening the system as the system is only as strong as its weakest link. 

Medical cargo bike that distributes blood and tissue samples in Copenhagen.

After announcing a lockdown of 2 weeks in France, the government published the list of the shops offering necessary goods and services allowed to remain open. Bike shops continue to serve a purpose to help increase mobility during these vulnerable times. Most major sports stores are equally closed – leaving local bike shops the task to help their local community. To see what the life of a bike shop is during a national lockdown, we called our friends running a bike shop in Nantes, France. Céline, the manager of the Atelier du Poupoupidou explained to us:

“We decided to keep our bike repair section open. We asked our clients to postpone the repairs that are not urgent and not to come to shop without real matters. We prioritize the repairs of people who really needed their bikes during this tough time. These past days, our clients have mostly been people working in the health and delivery sectors.”