By Charles Pekow — One ongoing challenge with retrofitting roadways to add bike lanes is finding the necessary space. Researchers in Singapore have devised a method that doesn’t require removing parking or auto lanes, or even narrowing them: converting sidewalks into bike lanes. They claim this can be done inexpensively.
This approach can help bridge gaps in bike trails, according to the study “Sidewalk-Based Bicycle Path Network Design Incorporating Equity in Cycling Time” from the National University of Singapore. The researchers developed an algorithm to identify suitable locations for sidewalk conversions, successfully tested on a university campus and in a town in Singapore.
The authors note that further research is needed to understand the potential number of cyclists using these paths and to address possible conflicts with pedestrians.
