Supporting year-round cycling could have similar benefits to overall mode shift as several years worth of bike infrastructure investments
Like a lot of Vancouverites this week, I am excited to be getting some sunny weather. Looking forward to cycling on the seawall got me thinking once again about how cities like Vancouver experience a dramatic shift in mobility choices between the summer and winter. We can see the change out on the street as people gong to work hop out of their cars or off the bus, and onto their bikes. However, this important shift is not usually accounted for in how buildings are designed and may lead to less sustainable choices.
It's no secret people cycle less in cooler, rainier weather. 2017 data from the City of Vancouver shows that people are 1.6-2.3 times as likely to cycle in fair weather compared to rainy or cold weather. How does this translate into actual cycling use though? The City of Vancouver publishes data from their permanent count stations along cycling routes so we can see the seasonality of cycling in the city.
Below, are monthly cycling trends over the past 13 years on four major routes.
The difference between summer and winter is stark. Even though we know that cycling volumes have been generally increasing over time, that difference is imperceptible against the huge swings in volumes throughout the year.
In the winter, several thousand fewer bicycles each day on each route means that in the winter there are thousands more cars and people on transit. Filling in these winter gaps would help reduce traffic congestion and crowding on trains and buses. This requires helping these people feel comfortable cycling year-round.
While it is clearly challenging, the data above show that effectively supporting year-round cycling could have similar benefits to overall mode shift, and emission reductions as several years worth of bike infrastructure investments.
There is a lot to unpack on the cycling trends above, but in this post I want to focus on how buildings can help support cold and rainy weather cycling as a part of their transportation demand management planning (for those who may not be familiar with the term, transportation demand management is a broad term that includes policies and actions that help to reduce personal vehicle travel).
Helping someone who already cycles to work several months a year become a year-round cyclist may be easier than trying to make a cyclist out of a driver.
Here are five ways buildings can support cycle commuters:
1. Well ventilated gear storage
No one wants to put on damp clothes before heading home for the day. If you get caught in the rain cycling to work it's important to have a ventilated space to dry your gear, including rain pants, jackets, and sometimes even wet socks. Comfortable clothes can help get you back on the saddle the next day. Ventilation also means that gear doesn’t stink up the locker room for everyone else using it. Mesh lockers, fans, and specialty drying racks can all be solutions here.
2. Comfortable change facilities
If you arrived at work in full rain kit, you are going to take some time to either change into your work gear, or at least take off your waterproof shell. Having a change facility (aka. an end of trip facility) that feels like part of the office rather than a converted supply closet in the parkade makes this a much more pleasant and repeatable experience. Think about good lighting, heating, and decent interior finishes.
3. Community Building
Buildings can help to motivate people to cycle year-round by promoting events like bike to work week, offering support for planning fall and winter bike commutes, providing cycling safety courses, and connecting people who cycle to work. Community and accountability can help cyclists continue cycle-commuting year-round.
4. Charge Points
We all know what it’s like to look out the window at 4:30pm before we leave the office and see that it’s already dark. Cycling in the winter means lights are critical for safety, (not just because they’re legally required). Providing charge points, ideally with locks, helps ensure necessary equipment is ready for the ride home. Bonus points for employers that provide spare batteries.
5. Safe Routes in Buildings
Wet tires have less friction, especially on tires that use a higher pressure. Providing a high friction coating on parkade surfaces used by bikes can help prevent falls and associated injuries. Ensuring building entrances and laneways are well lit can help improve safety here as well. If you’re got the ability to separate bikes from building vehicle traffic altogether, that can further improve the situation.
Of course, not everyone who cycles in fair weather will be willing to bike full time. But, helping someone who already cycles to work several months a year become a year-round cyclist may be easier than trying to make a cyclist out of a driver. Finding ways to enable people to cycle year-round unlocks benefits for everyone in the form of reduced congestion and pollution.
Supporting year-round cycling also has benefits for buildings in the form of reduced winter parking demand, which can reduce parking needs overall. Prospective tenants in today’s competitive commercial real estate market also look for great cycling facilities when considering moves. Consider the points mentioned here to help make buildings more attractive and supportive of year-round cycling.
John Turecki P.Eng
Step One Mobility Planning and Engineering