Since the onset of COVID-19, there have been reported increases in biking as a choice of commute, with large cities in California and New York experiencing the largest “bike booms” due concerns over public transportation. Despite the pandemic spurring the largest increase in bike riders in years, the growth of bike-riders in the US has started to dwindle starting 2022, reaching nearly 0%. 

The need for “continued investment in safety-focused active transportation infrastructure” is noted alongside the complete stagnation of the growth of bike-riders, and bike lanes may be exactly what cities such as Arcadia need in order to encourage more of its community to choose biking as a main component of their commute. 

Biking has a plethora of benefits. Not only does biking improve health through lowering cholesterol levels and boosting brain power, but choosing to bike instead of drive, for example, can contribute less to one’s carbon footprint and create an overall healthier environment to live in. People can expect to see a decrease in carbon emissions and an increase in overall air quality with more bikers in the community. As for students, a major consideration in Arcadia,  biking is a convenient and quick way to travel to school— which is why they should be implemented as separate lanes near schools. 

In addition to simply encouraging people to participate in bicycle commute, the implementation of additional and safer bike lanes in our community can create a safer cycling environment for those who already bike to schools and workplaces.

While there have been claims that bike lanes do not necessarily create a safer cycling environment, it has been shown that the infrastructure of “protected” bike lanes—or bike lanes that are physically separated from vehicle lanes, parking lanes, and sidewalks—have decreased intersection related injuries by a significant amount, which justifies the need for additional bike lanes in the city.

The implementation of more—and safer— bike lanes will not be an easy task. Advocating for the addition of said bike lanes will take much time and effort, and the addition of bike lanes are attached to expenses that come from the city. Adding a “bike line” (that is, painting a line on the road for bikes) would cost $4,400 per mile, according to Johnathan Doojphibulpol, Principal Civil Engineer at the Arcadia Public Works Department. This is not including the bike lane signposts, bike symbols, and other tertiary costs.

Despite this cost, there are citywide benefits to adding bike lanes. Not only does the implementation of bike lanes make the general area safer, but it has been shown that the economic value of properties in cities will increase with the addition of bike lanes. For example, South Pasadena, with roads that feature clearly painted green bike lanes, has a significantly higher cost of living than many other cities in the area, including Arcadia.

It is clear that creating bike friendly neighborhoods and cities are extremely beneficial, and adding bike lanes will not only benefit people in Arcadia, but also the physical and economic environment.