The rise of the two-wheeled commute
Slowly, but surely, cycling to work is gaining traction in the United States. In 2016, 2 million Americans rode their bicycles to work, an increase from 1.3 million a decade prior. During the pandemic, cycling to work saw a dramatic surge in popularity, driven by a mix of necessity, lifestyle changes, and a reevaluation of transportation norms. While many pandemic-era cyclists stopped biking, most cities retained their infrastructure, with many temporary pop-up bike lanes becoming permanent as cycling to work continued to grow, especially in urban and suburban areas. As infrastructure improves and more people begin to recognize the many benefits of cycling to work, affecting both health and wallets, we anticipate consistent growth into the foreseeable future.
A bike ride to and from work burns several hundred calories, comparable to running, swimming, or a HIIT workout. Additionally, cycling commuters experience a positive impact on their mental health, with regular bike riding reducing levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol. These reduced stress levels coincide with avoiding rush hour traffic.
More bikes also mean fewer cars on the road. Fewer cars reduce the traffic congestion that has become common in most metropolitan areas, the leading cause of urban air pollution. With 200,000 deaths attributed to poor air quality annually, we must seek solutions to the environmental challenges we face.
Due to a growing demand for alternative transportation, cycling infrastructure is improving nationwide, eliminating barriers to cycling to and from work. Unfortunately, progress hasn’t reached all areas of the country in the same way. While there are notable leaders in both infrastructure and culture (Portaland, OR, Minneapolis, MN and Boulder, CO) and those that are making prograss but are still working through gaps (Austin, TX, Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, IL) there are countless car-centric strongholds (Houston, TX, Miami, FL, Phoenix, AZ). In addition to needing to make cycling to work more practical in our cities, urban cycling safety is another significant concern. Specifically, without proper bike lanes in cities and bike corridors that take cyclists away from motorists, many will not feel safe enough to take the leap.
While these barriers may seem significant, they are not impossible to overcome. Governments at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as businesses and communities nationwide, all have the power to solve these problems. Collaboration and alignment often result in rapid progress. This article explores how we can create more bike-friendly cities.
Unsafe roads: building cycling infrastructure
One of the most significant barriers to cycling as a form of transportation is that roads and streets are designed for cars, not bikes. This raises concerns about bike safety for commuters, as many do not feel comfortable navigating traffic. Unfortunately, those concerns are well-founded: in 2023, an alarming 1,149 cyclists were killed in incidents with motor vehicles. To provide safer solutions for cycling to work, we must start asking for government policies that support cycling in our cities. While the challenge may feel overwhelming, there are several clear solutions and working examples that can be followed.
Protected bike lanes and cycling paths
Protected bike lanes go a step beyond the paint markings that create visual, but largely imaginary boundaries on city streets by separating motor vehicle traffic from cyclists with a physical barrier. Separating bikes from cars improves safety for both riders and motorists - the cyclists no longer feel like they may be struck from behind by a distracted driver, and drivers don’t have to worry about a cyclist unexpectedly veering into the lane.
Many cities have adopted protected lanes with impressive results. In New York City, a protected bike lane along 9th Avenue resulted in a 56% reduction in injuries to all users. In Philadelphia, 96% of commuters polled said they felt safer in protected bike lanes.
The protected bike lanes, often made out of flexible plastic posts or water-filled modular traffic barriers, are quick to install and remove. They give cities the opportunity to experiment with routes and gather practical data before making a more major and permanent investment. Once the route proves to be popular, the temporary structure is replaced with more permanent concrete jersey barriers, which provide the maximum physical separation from motor vehicles.
Cycling paths take commuters even farther away from other vehicles. Paths such as the Springwater Corridor in Portland, OR remove the need to ride for miles next to cars, resulting in an apparent increase in bike safety for commuters. Dedicated cycling paths offer a range of practical, economic, environmental, and psychological advantages for cycling commuters. These paths, fully separated from vehicle traffic and often pedestrians, are one of the most effective ways to make biking a viable, attractive, and safe commuting option in urban environments.
Traffic-calming measures
The most pressing challenge urban planners face when integrating multiple modes of transportation is the notable speed difference between bicycles and motor vehicles. This difference isn’t just a matter of convenience – it directly impacts safety, traffic flow, comfort, and equity in our cities.
Bike-friendly cities have begun to adopt different traffic-calming measures, especially by reducing speed limits on common bike-commuter roadways. Along with speed reductions, cities have also incorporated better signage and installed speed bumps to help lower the overall speed of travel in some areas.
A road diet is a traffic engineering strategy that reorganizes traffic lanes to improve safety and efficiency with multi-modal use in mind. It reduces the number of vehicle travel lanes to create space for other uses and better serve all users, not just cars. Prospect Park West in Brooklyn, NY was reduced from 3 travel lanes to 2, which allowed the creation of a two-way protected bike lane, resulting in a 15% drop in speeding and a 63% reduction in pedestrian injuries.
Bike-friendly intersections
Bicycling commuting solutions can be as easy as installing better and clearer signage at heavily trafficked intersections. In Portland, OR, where the Springwater bike path crosses busier intersections, the city went so far as to provide signals and priority crossings for cyclists. While vehicle traffic has a red light, a separate signal for cyclists turns green, allowing them to continue on the bike path safely without vehicles crossing.
Bike boulevards
Bike boulevards, also known as neighbourhood greenways, can increase the number of willing cycling commuters by creating a safe, bike-first lane. Bike boulevards prioritize bicycle traffic on local, low-speed streets by providing clear signage, posting low speeds (25 MPH or less), and reconfiguring streets to promote cycling. While cyclists may share their boulevards with local vehicle traffic, through traffic is discouraged and often forbidden. Berkeley, CA, formally implemented its bike boulevard in 1991. The network includes Hillegass Avenue, Milvia Street, and Russell Street and forms a comprehensive grid that supports commuting, school travel, and recreation.
The first-mile, last-mile problem: public transit cycling-transit connections
Perhaps the largest barrier to cycling to work is the distance between home and the workplace. Depending on location and access to public transportation, multi-modal commuting might offer the ideal solution, with a bike filling in the gaps.
Even with public transportation readily available, weaving cycling into a multi-modal commute can still be a challenge. Many cities are grappling with how to better integrate bikes into their transit systems or, at the very least, make the connection smoother and more practical.
Portland is often hailed as the gold standard for bike infrastructure in the U.S., and its integration with transit systems is no exception. TriMet, the city’s transit agency, operates light rail (MAX) and commuter trains that are bike-friendly. Riders can roll bikes directly onto trains, and many MAX stations feature bike racks, lockers, and even protected bike storage stations.
Increased bike storage
One major issue hamstringing many cycling commuters is the transit systems-to-cycling-transit connections. There is often insufficient storage on buses, trains, and even at transit hubs, and it usually becomes evident during the rush hour. This is especially true for buses, which are rarely equipped to handle more than three bikes, usually in the front rack. If those spots are taken, the commuter has no choice but to wait for the next bus. While trains typically have more bike storage, room can still be somewhat limited; a typical commuter train car may only have room for eight bikes, and some transit stations may only have one or two bike racks accommodating roughly two dozen commuter bikes. Better integrating bikes on buses and trains would help people feel like cycling to work is possible, regardless of the distance from their homes.
Expanded bikeshare programs
If adding space for more bikes on buses and trains is sometimes difficult for cities and transit systems, adding more bikes into the public transport system, especially in high-use areas, might be a better solution. Having bike share programs like Citi Bike and Divvy closer to transit stations and central business districts could help eliminate the need for extra bike storage. A commuter who rides a train for most of the commute could “transfer” onto a public bike for the last-mile trip to the office, provided there’s a bikeshare hub nearby.
Integrate transit systems and bikeshare programs
Cities could offer incentives for those who combine biking with public transportation to encourage more commuters to leave their cars behind. Instead of treating each mode separately, why not bundle them into a single, streamlined experience?
One promising approach is a multimodal discount pass — a monthly or annual option that includes both transit systems and bikeshare access. Through partnerships between transit agencies and bikeshare companies, commuters could use one pass to unlock a shared bike and ride the bus or train. No need for multiple apps, separate payments, or juggling accounts — just one tap, and you’re moving. The resulting system would be faster, more flexible, and way more appealing.
Workplace barriers to cycling: creating a bike-friendly workplace
Although road and transit systems infrastructure may be suitable for cycling to work, many workplaces are not yet bike-friendly. Similar to how streets and cities were built around car commuters, the workplace was often designed much the same way. Yet, simple things can be implemented to promote riding to work.
Bike parking solutions
Providing protected bike storage, especially indoors, is a massive step in getting more employees to ride their bikes to work. Many businesses may already have garages in their building, so it could be as simple as installing a bike cage, bike boxes, or lockers. While this would take up a few parking spots, it would allow for at least a dozen bikes to be parked, effectively freeing up that many car spots in the garage.
Showers, changing rooms, and lockers
Many choose not to ride their bike to work because they don’t want to arrive stinky and sweaty for their workday. A business that incorporates amenities like changing rooms with showers and lockers to store riding clothes is one of the best ways to encourage bikers.
Adding these options is easiest during the initial building planning and construction. However, if these can’t be incorporated, employers can try to work out plans with nearby fitness gyms to provide their employees a place to freshen up before their workday begins.
Flexible start times
A bike-friendly workplace understands that commuting longer distances will take more time for some employees. Allowing flexible start times to accommodate those with longer commutes is beneficial and likely won’t affect the employees’ productivity. Many multimodal commuters taking the train may already be starting their day from their laptop during transit.
Benefits and incentives
While it may seem simple, incentives significantly increase employee participation. Employers benefit significantly from having healthy employees—physically, mentally, and emotionally. A healthy workforce translates into lower costs, higher productivity, stronger morale, and better retention.
Creating benefits and incentives around cycling to work will ensure a much greater number of employees trade their car for a bike. Creating “bike-to-work” challenges is a great way to get the ball rolling. Companies like Patagonia have ongoing bike-to-work challenges that have become a regular part of the workplace culture. Extra PTO, monthly bonuses, and wellness program perks can all be used to incentivize employees.
Some employers, like Walmart, go even further to ensure participation by offering bike safety and mechanic courses during their bike-to-work month. Offering pre-tax deductions for bike-related expenses, such as new tires, maintenance, or even a new bike, could ensure a program’s success with minimal expenditure.
Bike theft: commuter bike security
Many people are willing to ride their bikes to work, yet a common barrier is the fear of having their bikes stolen. With commuter bike security being a primary concern, let’s address how to prevent theft concerns in cities.
Bike parking solutions
Having a reliable bike storage option is among the top challenges for cycling commuters. While some lucky commuters can bring their bike to their office or have access to some kind of company storage, most don’t have that privilege. In too many cases, public bike racks are either unavailable or too far away for an individual to feel secure about their bike.
Availability of secure, quality bike racks at urban workplaces and transit stations encourages adoption. However, with significant theft concerns, there is a real need for these bike racks to be placed in well-traveled, visible locations to make users confident their bike will be there upon returning. Even in the most progressive cities, protected bike storage infrastructure often feels like an afterthought, creating real-world obstacles for both casual riders and cycling commuters. Fortunately, progress is being made with a number of cities leading by example:
- Portland, OR mandates bike parking in new developments and provides public bike corrals and secure bike lockers at transit stations.
- Chicago, IL requires bike parking in many building codes and offers in-street corrals, station lockers, and monitored parking during events.
- New York City, NY introduced protected bike storage pods and bike parking shelters and requires certain commercial buildings to provide indoor bike access.
- San Francisco, CA offers BikeLink electronic lockers at transit hubs and includes bike valet services at events and busy shopping areas.
Higher-security levels
Bike lockers and bike boxes are an even better option since bikes are more secure in the fully enclosed space. Many bike boxes and lockers outside workplaces have enough storage for two bikes, allowing coworkers to share one locker. Another option is enclosed bike parking areas with higher security levels where users are only allowed in with key-card access. Once through the gate, users can then lock their bikes to a bike rack. Even better, having bike storage in areas with clear video surveillance will help give commuters peace of mind.
New construction
One of the most significant local government policies to support cycling to and from work starts before construction begins. If residential and commercial buildings were required to include secure bike storage in their planning, more residents and employees would feel better about cycling to work. In turn, residential and commercial buildings could market their space as commuter-friendly, attracting a demographic looking to be on their bikes more.
Bike valets
When thousands flock to concerts, festivals, sporting events, or packed urban destinations, the result is all too familiar: traffic jams, full parking lots, and long waits. Bike valets, are just like coat checks, but for bikes: guests roll up, hand over their wheels to trained staff or volunteers, and receive a claim ticket. Their bike is then securely parked in a designated area until they’re ready to leave. It’s free or low-cost, fast, and eliminates the stress of finding a safe spot to lock up. When attendees know they can arrive on two wheels and skip the parking chaos, more will choose cycling over driving. Bike valet programs are scalable and relatively easy to set up. They require modest space, a handful of racks or barriers, and a few trained staff or volunteers. From massive music festivals to neighborhood farmers’ markets, they’re adaptable to events of all sizes, and a visible commitment to sustainability.
Police involvement
For cyclists, few things are more disheartening than walking outside to find a lock cut and the bike gone. But what’s worse? Knowing that the chances of recovering that stolen bike or seeing any kind of justice are extremely slim. Bike theft is often treated as a low-priority, low-stakes crime, especially in cities dealing with limited resources and higher-profile offenses. Reports are frequently filed away with little follow-up, and unless the bike is uniquely marked or the thief is caught in the act, investigations rarely move forward.
An estimated 2.4 million bicycles are stolen annually in the U.S., amounting to a staggering $1.4 billion in losses each year. Despite the high incidence of theft, only about 37% of victims report the crime to the police. Even when reported, recovery rates remain dismally low, with less than 5% of stolen bikes returned to their owners.
Even when a stolen bike is recovered or a suspect identified, the path to prosecution is steep. Many cases never make it to court, and when they do, charges are often downgraded or dismissed entirely, especially for first-time offenders or thefts involving lower-value bikes. In the eyes of the legal system, theft concerns often don’t carry enough weight to justify the effort. The result is a culture of resignation. Many riders don’t even report stolen bikes, assuming (often correctly) that nothing will come of it. Instead, they turn to online sleuthing, social media, or local bike groups to try to track down their own property, often with better luck than the authorities.
A lack of enforcement enables repeat offenses and undermines public trust. For those who rely on their bikes as a primary mode of transport, this is more than an inconvenience—it’s a major disruption with little hope of recourse.
Studies show that the certainty of punishment (i.e., how likely someone is to be caught and prosecuted) has a much stronger deterrent effect than the severity of the punishment. Increasing police visibility or the chance of arrest is often more effective than increasing sentence length. While the U.S. has among the harshest sentencing laws in the developed world, it hasn’t shown a proportional reduction in crime. Scandinavian countries (e.g., Norway, Sweden) use shorter sentences and emphasize rehabilitation, and have some of the lowest crime and recidivism rates.
Accessibility and affordability: making bikes a viable option for all
The average American spends $179 per month on gas. This expense doesn’t include maintenance and wear and tear on the vehicle. While cycling to work will ultimately save money, it is no secret that the barrier to entry isn’t negligible. A quality, dependable bike and all the necessary equipment and gear to commute are simply out of reach for many. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any solutions.
Expand the bike subsidy
Multiple states have e-bike subsidy programs to encourage greener, alternative modes of transportation. Washington joined the group in 2025, offering up to $1,200 in rebates. These government policies to support cycling are a great incentive to get people to consider using an e-bike to commute, especially because the e-cycling to work benefits, like going faster, are so apparent.
The truth is that e-bikes are expensive, and even with a $1,200 rebate, the price tag may still be out of reach for many. These same benefits could be extended to all cycling commuters, both e-bikes and regular “acoustic” bikes. A regular commuter bike costs roughly half as much, and any rebate could go a long way in helping lower-income commuters get a quality bike.
Employer-sponsored bike leasing
What if barriers to cycling, like purchasing a bike, were completely taken away? This is what we are seeing with bike-to-work initiatives like employer-sponsored bike leasing. Companies like Lease-a-Bike partner with employers to make bike leasing, for commuting or otherwise, easy and accessible. This move is promoting the overall improvement in the health and well-being of the employee, but in many instances, the employee is also eligible for tax benefits through the program.
Tax incentives
When structured well, tax deductions have been shown to nudge individuals and businesses toward socially or economically desirable actions, such as investing, donating, saving for retirement, or reducing carbon emissions.
The e-bike subsidy program has already proven its effectiveness on the micro scale. Applying the same principles on the national scale has the power to fundamentally alter how people move in our towns. Businesses that encourage cycling to work by investing in secure bike storage and locker rooms for their employees should receive similar tax benefits.
Support community bike co-ops
Putting finances back into community bike co-ops is a great way to ensure bikes are not out of reach for anyone. Many bike co-ops refurbish and sell used bikes, providing more affordable options for those who need them. Many also offer free or low-cost bike repair and maintenance for members, accessibility to affordable gear, and regularly hold community-building events that keep them growing. Ensuring these bike co-ops can keep running and serving their community will help keep more people on bikes.
Cultural shifts: normalizing bike commuting through policy and promotion
In the United States, cycling is seen more as a form of recreation than transportation. This mindset leads to failure to recognize the barriers to cycling to work and lack of investment in the necessary cycling infrastructure. Fortunately, we are starting to see a shift. As government policies to support cycling become commonplace, more cities are breaking down these barriers.
Public awareness campaigns
Subsidies, like the ones offered on e-bikes in several localities, are a great start. However, these programs are all experiencing individual growing pains, some going unpublicized in mainstream media and others being limited in participation.
Launching broad and general public awareness campaigns on the benefits of cycling to work has the potential to reach more people and broader demographics. While topics such as physical and mental health and financial savings are clear talking points, they are also great opportunities to share information about government subsidy programs that many may not know exist.
National Bike-to-Work Day is the third Friday of May each year and is one of the longstanding bicycle advocacy campaigns in the US. Share the Road is a national campaign from State DOTs and numerous advocacy groups that promotes coexistence between drivers and cyclists on public roads.
Bike education in schools and workplaces
While we often see “bicycle education” in schools teaching kids how to ride bikes, integrating a higher level of bike education could greatly benefit kids. Like electives such as wood shop or auto shop, students could participate in bike education, where they learn to build and maintain bikes. Education could continue further with things like cycling infrastructure, taught at more advanced levels.
As more businesses begin incorporating health and fitness, such as discounted or free gym memberships, cycling could be seen as another way to promote employee health. By incentivising cycling to work and holding workshops that offer tips for beginners, cycling moves from recreation to transportation in the mainstream consciousness.
Hold events
Cities have great opportunities to promote cycling to work through city-wide events and car-free street festivals. Such events showcase the city's established cycling infrastructure and help people visualize how attainable cycling to work really is.
Bike ambassador programs
If you are dipping your toes into cycling to work in cities like Washington, D.C., organizations like the DC Bike Ambassadors are great resources. Funded through a partnership with the District Department of Transportation, the DC Bike Ambassadors seek to get more residents to commute throughout the city. They educate cyclists and drivers, give cycling to work tips for beginners, and connect cyclists with other city and cycling resources. Programs like the DC Bike Ambassadors in different cities throughout the country continue solidifying cycling to work solutions in their states.
Transportation planning committees and policymaking
Cities are increasingly incorporating commuters and cyclists into their transportation planning and policymaking processes. Cyclists are finding their voice and having their commuting needs met as they plan and build safer opportunities for those choosing not to drive. Cities like Houston, TX, have included commuters and cyclists in these planning meetings for years. The city boasts a 1,800-mile bike path plan that focuses on equity, with bike paths strategically placed in areas of the city that need them most.
A collective effort for a bike-friendly future
Acceptance starts with small policy changes. Better cycling infrastructure, bike-workplace integration, and safe and protected bike storage always result in an increase in ridership. To see real increases in making cycling to work a viable option for many, cities, communities, and employers need to take responsibility and play their part.
Getting people on bikes shouldn’t be the goal, but rather a part of a bigger plan – to create healthier, safer, and more sustainable cities and communities. If your city or workplace isn’t bike-friendly, advocate for these changes. Talk to others at work and see if you can get a group of coworkers who want to commute, and you might find that there is power in numbers. Get involved at your community and at the city level, where road infrastructure decisions are made. Make sure your voice is heard — the future of urban mobility depends on it!
Bike insurance: protecting the commuter’s investment
Bike theft remains one of the biggest concerns for commuters, especially in cities, and most stolen bikes are never recovered. While many assume homeowners' insurance covers this loss, high deductibles and depreciation often leave riders with little reimbursement, sometimes just a few hundred dollars on a multi-thousand-dollar bike. Worse, filing a claim can raise home insurance rates or lead to non-renewal. Specialty bike insurance, like Velosurance, offers full-value coverage for theft, crashes, and even transit damage, without impacting the home policy. For regular commuters, it’s a practical and affordable way to protect the primary mode of transportation.
This insurance goes beyond theft coverage. It can help with medical costs from cycling injuries, which is especially helpful for those with high-deductible health plans. Optional liability protection is also available, which is useful for those who ride on shared roads and trails. E-bikes, often excluded from traditional policies, are covered as long as they meet federal standards. For anyone who relies on their bike daily, this kind of protection adds security and confidence to every ride.