It turns out that the number of people riding bicycles has increased rapidly due to the influence of the new coronavirus



With the spread of the

new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in various countries, companies have begun to recommend remote work and staggered commutes to avoid high population densities, and people have refrained from attending events or going out. Change is coming. In New York City, USA, it is reported that 'the number of people riding bicycles has increased rapidly' with the spread of the new coronavirus.

BOOM! New Citi Bike Stats Show Cycling Surge is Real — But Mayor is Not Acting – Streetsblog New York City
https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2020/03/12/boom-new-citi-bike-stats-show-cycling-surge-is-real-but-mayor-is-not-acting/

Coronavirus has caused a bicycling boom in New York City | Grist
https://grist.org/climate/coronavirus-has-caused-a-bicycling-boom-in-new-york-city/



On March 8, 2020, Mayor

Bill DeBrazio of New York published guidelines for New Yorkers to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

The guidelines state: 'To help protect yourself and others, consider working from home as much as possible and shift your working hours. Avoid using the subway during rush hours and use alternatives such as cycling or walking. `` Commuters '' `` People with reduced immunity and chronic illness do not participate in unnecessary events and gatherings '' `` Cublic officials cancel all unnecessary international travel '' `` Distribute paper towels and soap to schools Do 'is written.

Among the recommended items, the request to switch the mode of transportation to bicycles and walking is, `` Citizens living in New York with insufficient bicycle lanes are not accustomed to riding bicycles and people move It is unlikely that the means will be switched. ' In New York, there are many cases where cars are parked on bicycle lanes, so it was pointed out that hurdles for beginners to ride bicycles are high.


by

Tim Klapdor

However, less than a week after Mayor Des Blasio published the guidelines, data showed that many New Yorkers began cycling. Citi Bike , a rental bike service in New York, reported on March 12 that bicycle utilization increased by up to 67% compared to 2019.

The New York City Transportation Authority also announced on March 12 that the number of cyclists has increased due to the warmer temperatures and the advocacy of guidelines with COVID-19. Bicycle traffic across the bridge over the East River has increased 50% year-over-year.



It has been pointed out that the increasing demand for bicycles is due to higher temperatures than usual, but it is also clear that concerns about the new coronavirus are one factor. The new cyclists are not only those who have switched from commuting to commuting but also those who originally went to the gym, but are afraid of infection in the gym and are looking for ways to exercise outdoors There are people.

`` Physical barriers such as inexperience and maintenance of car lanes were not a problem for New Yorkers to adopt more sanitary and climate-friendly human-powered transportation, '' said grist , a web media reporting news on climate change. '. There are concerns that increasing the number of inexperienced cyclists will reduce traffic safety, but increasing the number of bicycles will make car drivers more aware of bicycles, so conversely for cyclists Grist believes that safety will increase. In addition, the number of cars in the city is decreasing due to the recommendation of telecommuting and staggered commuting, and it is said that an environment where bicycles can pass safely is being prepared.

'I'm not sure if the New York cycling boom will continue after the outbreak of the new coronavirus,' grist said, arguing that the increase in cycling is a welcome change for the environment. He points out that it is an unexpected benefit of the new coronavirus.


by New York City Department of Transportation

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