Bike lanes have a calming effect on traffic, says a study

An American study found that bike lanes—especially those with physical or visual barriers—can have a calming effect on traffic.

According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of death in the United States for people under the age of 55.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) stated in 2022 that bike lanes can reduce the number of crashes on local roads by 30% to 49%.

In light of these statistics, a study published on ScienceDirect examined the impact of temporary bike lanes on improving safety.

The study titled “The Traffic Calming Effect of Delineated Bicycle Lanes,” led by Hannah Younes and colleagues, investigated how bike lanes—especially those with physical barriers—affect vehicle speeds at intersections.

Using computer vision methods to analyze the speed and trajectory of more than 9,000 cars at a signalized intersection in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the research aimed to quantify the impact of temporary bike lanes on traffic flow and safety.

Bike lanes reduce vehicle speeds

The findings show a significant reduction in vehicle speeds in the presence of marked bike lanes, suggesting that these lanes benefit not only cyclists but also improve overall road safety by calming traffic.

The research highlights the potential of temporary, so-called “pop-up” bike lanes as a low-cost and flexible solution to improving cyclist safety and encouraging active mobility. These lanes gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they enabled outdoor movement while maintaining social distancing.

Researchers created a temporary bike lane using orange cones, traffic bollards, and temporary chalk markings to separate cyclists from motor vehicle traffic.

This setup allowed a comparison of vehicle speeds before and after the lane was introduced.

The results showed:

• a 28% reduction in average peak speed
• a 21% reduction in average speed for right-turning vehicles when a marked bike lane was present

For vehicles going straight, speeds decreased by 8%. Interestingly, even bike lanes marked only with paint led to a slight speed reduction, but only for right-turning vehicles.

These findings highlight additional benefits of bike lanes in urban transport. By calming traffic, they protect cyclists while also reducing the risk and severity of accidents for all road users, including pedestrians.

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