Data shows bike lanes get people cycling and improve perceptions of public spaces

New research from the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), an advocacy group based in Brussels, has confirmed that if a city has more bike lanes, more people will cycle. The results will not be a surprise to most cyclists, but they give campaigners and urban planners a substantial footing to argue for more cycling infrastructure in towns and cities around the world.

Alongside this headline result, the research has shown that residents rate public spaces higher in cities with more cycling infrastructure, demonstrating that more bike lanes makes cities more pleasant for everyone, even those of us who do not ride a bike.