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Cycling for Transportation During COVID-19

March 23, 2020

With schools closed, restaurants restricted to take-out or delivery, and social distancing recommendations firmly in place, footage of quiet downtown streets is evidence that Bostonians are staying home as recommended. However, when essential work, family care, or other vital needs require that we venture outside, questions about prudent transportation choices while social distancing are top-of-mind.

Keeping in mind the CDC’s recommendation of maintaining six or more feet of distance between people, cycling solo is an option that naturally lends itself to a buffer of distance between the rider and the nearest person. Even better, choosing to travel by bike can perk up your mood while providing exposure to fresh air, sunlight, and immunity-boosting activity.

In several cities, officials are seeing the transportation opportunity that cycling presents during the current pandemic and taking action to enhance existing infrastructure in response. In the Colombian capital of Bogotá, 47 miles of temporary bike networks are being implemented to reduce crowding on public transportation and encourage what the Bogotá Mayor’s Office called “one of the most hygienic alternatives for the prevention of the virus.” According to a recent tweet from Seattle-based biking and walking advocacy group Queen Anne Greenways, Mexico City is considering a similar move.

In contrast, buzz in New York City around a COVID-19 bike boom has been tempered by concern that cyclist injuries have spiked while driver and pedestrian injuries have plummeted in recent weeks. During this time in which we are all increasingly conscious of the need to avoid unnecessary strain on our medical systems, a transportation solution that could risk additional hospital visits may not be good enough. As Boston has shown with flexible and responsive bus and bike lane pilots in recent years, it doesn’t take more than traffic cones to set up a temporary infrastructure for safer cycling during a time of anticipated increased demand.

If you’re already connected to your destination by one of Boston’s many currently established biking routes, now could be a great time to consider trying out cycling as a healthy and socially distanced form of transportation. Whether you choose to use your own set of wheels or a bikeshare, don’t forget to practice all of the recommended precautions that currently apply – wipe the surfaces you touch (including bike locks and racks) with disinfectant wipes, maintain at least six feet of distance from other people, and wash your hands before and after riding.

Tell us about your cycling experiences during this challenging time. Do you feel safely connected to your destination? Are decreased traffic patterns changing the places you feel comfortable riding? We’d love to hear your stories at TMA@abettercity.org.