cover image: Cities for Everyone www.citiesforeveryone.org - Evaluating Bikeway Criticisms - 21 May 2021

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Cities for Everyone www.citiesforeveryone.org - Evaluating Bikeway Criticisms - 21 May 2021

21 May 2021

90% of Victoria residents use active modes and there are more adult bicycles than cars in our city,15 most Figure 3 Active Commute Shares (Canada Census) households have members who rely on non-auto modes,16 and surveys indicate that many motorists want to drive less and use active modes more, provided that they are safe and convenient to use.17 This suggests that at least a quarter of Victoria re. [...] For example, a bikeway might add a minute to two to car pizza deliveries and emergency response times,39 but improves bike deliveries which saves money overall, reduces crash risks and the need for emergency response, and still provides much faster deliveries and emergency response than in most suburban and rural areas. [...] An average household pays hundreds of dollars in annual property taxes to finance roadway and traffic services, “free” parking increases housing costs by $200 per month,53 and add about $2 to a restaurant meal bill.54 Of course, pedestrians and bicyclists also use public roads and traffic services, but their costs tend to be small due to their smaller size, light weight and lower annual kilometers. [...] Bikeway spending represents less than 2% of total road and government-mandated parking costs, 7% of total local and provincial roadway spending per capita, and 12 Annual Costs Evaluating Bikeway Criticisms Cities for Everyone 14% of Victoria’s roadway spending, which is less than the portion of residents who at least occasionally bicycle, and far lower than bike share targets. [...] Experience in Victoria and elsewhere demonstrates that bikeways significantly increase bicycle travel, and their costs are usually repaid many times over through vehicle and infrastructure cost savings, health and equity gains, improved environmental quality, and economic benefits.

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