Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond

This guide by the World Resources Institute and its partners provides principles for designing safe, temporary cycling infrastructure in response to the increased demand for cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to transition these measures into lasting sustainable urban mobility networks.

• Between March and July 2020, 394 cities, states, and countries implemented interventions to reallocate street space to allow people to walk and cycle more safely and directly.
• Cyclists are highly vulnerable in vehicle collisions, with the WHO reporting 41,000 annual cyclist deaths globally, which accounts for 3% of all road traffic deaths.
• The increase in cycling popularity is attributed to several factors: reduced public transport and ridesharing capacity due to physical distancing, lower vehicle traffic during lockdowns, a greater awareness of the connection between mental health and physical activity, and the comfort provided by temporary lanes.
• To be effective, temporary or 'emergent' bike lanes must adhere to safe design standards, be integrated with speed management, and align with the broader mobility strategies and cycling networks of the city.
• City planning for cyclist needs must address two primary public health concerns: physical distancing and road safety.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond. https://www.wri.org/research/safe-bicycle-lane-design-principles

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/safe-bicycle-lane-design-principles.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond |url=https://www.wri.org/research/safe-bicycle-lane-design-principles |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendsafe, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Safe Bicycle Lane Design Principles: Responding to Cycling Needs in Cities during COVID and Beyond}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/safe-bicycle-lane-design-principles}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }