Green Bike Lanes Double in 2012

If you live or work in an urban area, you've probably seen a bike lane. In six major U.S. cities, the standard bike lane, with its white paint outline, is getting a makeover, thanks to the Green Lane Project, a program launched by the Bikes Belong Foundation. The improved space, called a "green lane," adds physical separation between moving cars and bikes, such as a curb, parked cars or plastic posts, to better protect cyclists.

Protected bike lanes have been widely used in Europe for a long time, but only recently have they gained traction in the U.S. A recent report shows the number of protected green lanes in the U.S. has nearly doubled this year. What's more, the project expects the number to double again next year.

"Increasingly, U.S. cities want to make riding a bike a practical and comfortable way to get around for short trips," says Martha Roskowski, Green Lane Project director. "The numbers make it very clear that if we change how the streets work, we change how people travel. "Building safe, appealing places to ride is the number one way we can encourage more people to hop on a bike."

According to the project, 60% of Americans say they would bike more often if they had a safe place, like a green lane, to ride. This point was validated by a recent study in Washington, DC, that revealed bicycling increased 200% on Pennsylvania Avenue after green lanes were installed.

Visit the Green Lane Project website to find out about the current inventory of green lanes, and for details about existing and future protected green lanes.

Photo courtesy of Green Lane Project/Bikes Belong