Building Bicycle Superhighways: A Visionary Plan to Reclaim City Streets

Summary

The City of London plans to build bicycle roads connecting underground stations, which would be overhead with walls or fences on two sides, and riders would pay to access them similarly to the subway system. Though initial designs are beautiful and promising, it remains unclear if such a system would be actually built for a lack of funding or political will. However, the system would dovetail with the existing bike path network, particularly the bicycle superhighways on the ground. The idea of building bike infrastructure is part of a larger movement in cities to break the dominance of cars and make streets more people-friendly.

What is the City of London’s plan to build bicycle superhighways?
Is the City of London’s plan really going to materialize?
What other cities are building bike infrastructure?
How can cities become less car-centric?
What can be done to make cities more people-friendly?

What is the City of London’s plan to build bicycle superhighways?

The City of London plans to build bicycle roads connecting underground stations with walls or fences on two sides and a payment system similar to that of subways. The initial designs of the project are impressive and would blend well with the existing bike path network, such as the bicycle superhighways already present on the ground. The City of London’s plan is part of a larger trend towards bike infrastructure as a means of replacing cars as the dominant mode of transportation in urban areas.

Is the City of London’s plan really going to materialize?

It is uncertain whether the City of London’s plan to build bike infrastructure will become a reality. While the initial designs are impressive, funding and political support may be lacking to put the plan into action. However, the City of London’s bike infrastructure system would dovetail with the existing bike path network, particularly the bicycle superhighways, and is part of a larger movement of cities looking to reduce car dominance and make streets more pedestrian-friendly.

What other cities are building bike infrastructure?

Cities all over the world are building bike infrastructure, including New York City’s experimental bike paths designed to encourage bicycle transit. Other urban areas are building developments like the Bedford Zero Emission development in England or Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, which are car-free and designed to promote cycling and walking as primary modes of transportation.

How can cities become less car-centric?

Breaking the dominance of cars in cities is a goal of urban planners around the world. One approach is for cities to create bike infrastructure, such as bicycle highways and superhighways. Additionally, there are parts of Philadelphia where streets are so narrow that cars cannot pass through, making them more pedestrian-friendly areas. Commercial entertainment districts like The Grove in Los Angeles have also banned cars from certain zones, allowing for more walking and biking.

What can be done to make cities more people-friendly?

Cities can become more people-friendly by prioritizing pedestrian and bike infrastructure. While not everyone can go entirely car-free, by designing certain parts of the city for walking and biking, urban areas can become more livable and sustainable. Additionally, services can be located in alleyways or other areas where cars do not have priority, providing less dangerous spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. Furthermore, cities can learn from the lessons of commercial developers who have created successful car-free entertainment districts and apply those principles to the wider cityscape.