PeopleForBikes announced that its Green Lane Project has begun accepting applications from U.S. cities hoping to be among the next six selected to lead the way in building protected bike lanes.
The Green Lane Project helps cities build better bike lanes to create low-stress streets. It launched in 2012 and has worked closely with six major U.S. cities—Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; and Washington, D.C.—to speed the installation of protected bikes lanes.
Protected bike lanes are on-street lanes separated from traffic by curbs, planters, parked cars or posts.
In the Project's first year, the number of protected bike lanes on city streets nationwide nearly doubled from 62 to 102, with nearly half of all growth coming from the Project's six focus cities. After two years of intensive collaboration with the Green Lane Project, its founding cities will continue to build protected bike lane networks and serve as national models, while six new cities will be enlisted as the Green Lane Project class of 2016.
The Green Lane Project hosts hands-on workshops and study tours for city leaders, provides technical and strategic assistance, and delivers targeted grants to get protected bike lanes on the ground.
In New York City, local businesses saw a 49 percent increase in retail sales after the construction of protected bike lanes, compared to only a 3 percent increase citywide, according to PeopleForBikes.
Applications are open from October 18 through January. Cities should file a letter of intent to apply by November 15. The six new cities will be announced in spring 2014.
