Bike Lanes – Truth and Fiction

July 23, 2019, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

The Region has been advocating for active transportation for some time now, and is making a concerted effort to include and improve cycling infrastructure. There has been heated debate about whether the Region is doing enough to make cycling safe from cycling advocates. We’ve followed the debate in Toronto closely about dedicated cycling lanes.

There seems to be a great deal of misinformation about cycling lanes. Here are some myths busted.

1. Cycling lanes increase car congestion and pollution. FALSE
   While it may seem that taking road width away from car traffic will increase congestion the research shows that isn’t true. Traffic engineers have known for years that induced demand – more road space = more cars is true. This works in reverse as well – less road space brings fewer cars. In general, well designed cycling lanes take up little road space.
2. No one uses bike lanes. FALSE
   Empirical data shows the wherever cycling lanes are built rider numbers increase.
3. They are bad for business. FALSE
   A recent New York City study found that businesses on streets with separated bike lanes grew more quickly than those without.
4. Cycling lanes are dangerous to pedestrians. FALSE
   Pedestrians are not in more danger when crossing bike lanes at intersections.
5. Cyclists break the law all the time and shouldn’t get their own lanes. FALSE
   The rates of drivers breaking the law are very high. In Britain between 52-92% of drivers exceed the speed limit on city streets. Millions of drivers admit to texting and talking on their cell phones. These drivers pose far greater danger to everyone on the road than a cyclist running a red light.
6. They cost too much. FALSE
   putting in cycling lanes may seem expensive on the face of it, but when compared to the overall budget of road construction and improvement they amount to a drop in the bucket of spending.
7. We don’t need them. FALSE
   Cyclists need a safe space to cycle in and that safe space is a separate lane. We are spending money intensifying residential use in downtown neighbourhoods and it makes no sense to force those people to drive to their downtown jobs. Increasing active transport is good for health of people and the environment.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

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