POLICY | Bike Lanes Should Be Public Utilities
POLICY | Bike Lanes Should Be Public Utilities
Safer neighborhood infrastructure is possible, but approvals must be made more efficient.
Written By Vaneesha Patel
“Road Work Ahead”—a phrase we see on neon orange signs all too often. Other than the frustration arising from increased traffic or alternate routes, we continue on with our day without questioning which roadway improvements are occurring. They just are. From road widening to the sewer line installation, we accept these changes and adjust our behavior accordingly. However, when it comes to the implementation of bicycle infrastructure, this acquiescence is missing. That’s because bike lanes and other bicycle infrastructure are not recognized as public utilities. They should be.
When a local government wants to add or change a road, little approval is needed from the public. There are no rounds of public engagement. There are no charrettes. There are no surveys and no public comment. Often, the project is immediately implemented. The same story plays out for other public improvements too. Sewers, drains, culverts, and more are almost always put into place without prior approval or input from the public. This allows the government to move efficiently on necessary projects.
But bike lanes are not considered necessary. In other words, they are not treated like public utilities—despite the fact that they offer the same vital services that roads and sewers do. In fact, they provide safe access and connectivity to over 870,000 people. Protected bike lanes also reduce injuries by 75 percent. And they benefit not only those on bikes but also those behind the wheel. The addition of bike lanes can clear confusion about the right of way for cyclists and keep cars moving smoothly, without having to slow down or pass cyclists that are forced to ride on the road.
When bike lanes are pitched as a project idea, they then have to get approval from the public. It’s there that they are often met with disapproval despite being proven to increase safety for both cyclists and automobile drivers. To increase the frequency and efficiency of the implementation of such vital infrastructure, bike lanes need to be formally recognized as a type of public utility.
Vaneesha Patel is the Spring 2023 Mencken Publishing Fellow on Urban Development.