the financial burden of a car. Bikeability is one component of the growing trend of design for aging-in-place.
Supportive bicycle infrastructure is physically separated from automobile traffic, so the integrity of bike lanes is not compromised by a parked delivery vehicle or cars veering over a painted line. It is wide enough to allow those with limited bike handling skills (for instance, Caviar delivery riders, young children, or those with compromised balance) to exist in the same lane as skilled riders, and for a standard commuter rider to fit in the same lane as a cargo bike packed with children and groceries. Crossings prioritize the safety of people, not the speed of automobiles, though studies of some Philadelphia bike lanes have shown that safer infrastructure can positively benefit travel times
and safety for all.
The best networks of protected infrastructure are continuous, connecting residential neighborhoods to stores, schools, jobs, and recreation without interruption. A well-designed web of safe bike lanes means riders at all stages of life, incomes, and abilities have equal access to the features that make our cities and towns great.
According to the League of American Bicyclists and the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, 2.2% of Philadelphia commuted by bike in 2015.
