Pop-up lanes improve cycling and air quality

In the wake of the pandemic, many European cities have seized the opportunity to accelerate the transition to more sustainable urban mobility. Over time, planners in Berlin are walking a series of pop-up bike lanes. Researchers at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam have examined the effects of these innovations in the initial phase of the pandemic. Their results show that the cycle lanes are widely accepted and have promoted the acceptance of cycling. In addition, the nitrogen dioxide exposure of cyclists decreased with the establishment of the cycle lanes.

Researchers polled people in Berlin for their opinions on pop-up cycle lanes and analyzed the impact of their introduction on air quality and bicycle use using a case study. The case study focused on the busy Kottbusser Damm street in the inner-city district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, where in April 2020 one of Germany’s first pop-up cycle lanes was installed on both sides and along the full length of the street.

Bike lanes popular with cyclists, pedestrians and users of public transport

The poll revealed a wide split in public opinion on the new pop-up bike lanes: 95% of regular cyclists supported the introduction of the lanes, while around 75% of pedestrians and 79% of public transport users also supported the policy. In contrast, only 15% of respondents who identify as motorists approve of the pop-up bike lanes.

To understand the impact of the introduction of the cycle lane, the researchers analyzed data on bicycle use along the Kottbusser Damm both before and after its installation. The researchers were able to use the fitness tracking app Strava to collect anonymous data from cyclists. While this data is not representative, there is generally a strong correlation between Strava data and official bike count records.

Analysis of this data shows that bicycle traffic increased significantly following the launch of the pop-up bike lane, increasing by 73% in the first 12 months. In fact, a maximum increase in bicycle use of 141% was observed in May 2020 compared to May 2019, increasing on these routes and the pop-up cycle lanes are strongly supported not only by cyclists but also by public transport users and pedestrians,” explains first author Sophia Becker.

A step towards sustainable transport planning

Air quality measurements show that cyclists on the pop-up lane at Kottbusser Damm were exposed to 22% lower levels of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide than before. Similar measurements taken on nearby roads showed no reduction in exposure. According to the researchers, this suggests that the improved air quality at Kottbusser Damm is due to the pop-up bike lane rather than a city-wide trend in air pollution.

“Our results make it clear that pop-up bike lanes can accelerate the transition to a bike-friendly city. Traffic planners in Berlin demonstrated innovative thinking by testing a new road layout for a limited period of time and analyzing its use. The lessons learned from these experiments were then integrated into a long-term solution, which significantly improves the result,” explains co-author Dirk von Schneidemesser.

However, the starting position in the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district of Berlin was more favorable than elsewhere. Civil society organisations, politicians and authorities were already preparing for the creation of new cycle paths in the run-up to the pandemic and were able to build on the impetus provided by the new Berlin Mobility Act.

The study was published in Sustainable Cities and Society.

Provided by the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies eV