Ask Code Switch: Do bike lanes cause gentrification?

I’m not a cyclist. I know
to ride a bike, but the only cycling I do these days is in spin class. A big part of that is because of the places I’ve lived – like the not-so-bike-friendly cities of LA, Denver and Dallas. In my current hometown of Philly, the conversation around bike lanes and bike safety hit a fever pitch this summer after a
while riding her bike.
In the wake of such a shocking death, community organizations and residents have
and delivered
to the mayor and city council demanding concrete-protected bike lanes throughout the city. But the fight for cyclist safety and more bicycle infrastructure often brings up an argument that bike lanes contribute to gentrification and displacement.
This week on
, our caller, Stefan Zajic, happens to be one such Philly resident – an avid cyclist and local bike advocate himself – who wrestles with this question every time he gets on his bike.
…
…
Stefan’s question is based on the assumption that if a bike lane comes to your neighborhood, your rent is going up, more development is coming,

Just the proposal of a bike lane can create protests, because of the perceived threat it poses to the existing community, according to
at NYU which tracks
So, are bike lanes really elevating one community while evicting another? And if that’s the case — are bike advocates on the wrong side of progress?
Adonia Lugo, a researcher at UCLA’s
says
are the questions to be asking if you want to be part of the
prioritizing safe transportation for
on two-wheels, four-wheels, and no wheels at all.
Listen to this episode of
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Do you have a question for Lori and the Code Switch team? Send your questions on Instagram @nprcodeswitch. Or, email us at
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