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COVID-19 has created more cyclists: How cities can keep them on their bikes

As physical distancing measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 begin to relax in some countries and people return to work, the fears surrounding transportation and commuting continue to weigh on the minds of many.

Once popular options like public transit and ridesharing, such as Uber, now carry the . The that even if it operated at only 30 percent of capacity, roughly 510,000 riders, passengers would not be able to keep a safe distance from each other.

Personal vehicles do allow for adequate distancing, but . There is also a substantial : parking, insurance, gas.

As a result, —and bike shops across the United States and Canada are seeing record sales and facing supply shortages.

The benefits of cycling

This recent surge in cyclists is beneficial for several reasons. From a public health perspective, cycling is a form of physical activity that can improve physical and , prevent a host of chronic diseases, such as , and reduce burden on the health-care system. This translates into for Canada.

But there is also a high return on investment from installing cycling networks. The increase in cyclists diverts cars from streets, resulting in . Overall, the benefits of investing in cycling infrastructure and increasing the number of cyclists on the road far outweigh its associated costs, with .

The room for growth in terms of new cyclists is enormous. Prior to the pandemic only a small proportion of people biked or walked to work: , and in the U.S., .

Compared to many European bike-friendly cities like , North American cities fall far behind.

Keeping new cyclists on the road

Some cities, like and Toronto, have closed roads to cars to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians. Major metropolitan cities like as a means to promote and maintain the accessibility and safety of cycling.

These measures, however, have been put in place in response to COVID-19 and physical distancing regulations. As cities reopen—and if transportation-related fears lessen—new cyclists may return to traditional modes of transportation, especially as the seasons bring colder weather to some cities.

So how do we get new cyclists to continue biking?

As exercise behavior scientists, our research focuses on the factors that affect people's motivation and intention to exercise. We're also avid cyclists—and know what influences cycling in our communities.

Three key factors that can facilitate and maintain cycling are safety, efficiency and cost. To address these factors, we recommend the following strategies:

• Construct separated bike lanes: . Separating vehicle and foot traffic from cyclists increases safety for all groups, and should be a priority. A multi-city study found .
• Connect existing bike networks: Many cyclists feel the . Cities should identify popular routes and extend existing networks to support those routes. This will help create a more safe and efficient means of transportation.
• Improve bike network maintenance during the winter: Snowy weather is a reality for cycling in Canada and parts of the U.S. Winter cyclists identify . Some snowy countries, , make road and bike network maintenance during the winter a priority. Doing this means there are fewer cyclists on main roads and arteries, leading to a safer, quicker commute for all.
• Incentivize cycling: We know cycling is hugely beneficial to health and well-being over the long term, yet people are rarely persuaded to start or continue a behavior because of possible future rewards. Incentives, however, can help keep new cyclists on the road. Governments should offer tax deductions for bike-related purchases and services. Insurance companies should reduce premiums for bikers, . Companies should make a bike purchase part of employee benefits, similar to the and schemes popular in the U.K. and Ireland, respectively.

These strategies, taken together, will have the greatest impact on enhancing bike safety, optimizing travel time and making cycling more financially attractive than traditional modes of transportation.

Ultimately, these strategies also . Enacting these strategies can transform cycling from an alternative mode of transportation to the safest, fastest and most cost-effective mode of transportation, well beyond the duration of COVID-19.