Size: 17 kilometers
Key partners: City of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires has been investing in cycling infrastructure for years. However, data analyzed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic found that only 4 in 10 cyclists used the formal bike network, and 86% of crashes involving cyclists occurred on streets lacking bicycle infrastructure. In response to this data and the disruption to public transport caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, Buenos Aires began adding bike lanes to its arterial avenues, which previously only served cars.

A flexible design, including paint markings and plastic bollards, allowed Buenos Aires to build infrastructure quickly. The bike lanes installed are unidirectional with a width of 3 meters that allows safe passing by cyclists. In September 2020, Buenos Aires implemented 17 kilometers (km) of bike lanes along two of its most important avenues: Corrientes and Córdoba. This new cycling infrastructure was also accompanied by reduced speed limits from 60 km/h to 50 km/h on these roads.

The city collected data related to traffic flow on both avenues and was able to demonstrate that there were no significant changes to travel times for motorized vehicles after the intervention. With this evidence, the infrastructure became permanent, and the plastic bollards were replaced with concrete barriers.

WRI supported the city with design and facilitated a series of discussions and online meetings with city officials and engineers on recommendations and traffic light solutions. WRI also performed a road safety audit of critical intersections that was used to redesign three of the most dangerous intersections.

Impact:

  • Number of cyclists increased by 113% on Corrientes Avenue and by 146% on Córdoba Avenue after the implementation.
  • Newly installed bike lanes saw a 154% increase in the share of women cyclists, from 11% to 28%.
  • Increased the share of cyclists using safe infrastructure in the central area of the city from 39% to 45%. This is the highest value recorded since 2012, when only 22% of trips were made within the formal bike lane network.
  • Preliminary traffic accident data showed a decrease in the rate of injured cyclists of 79% and 92% on Corrientes and Córdoba Avenues, respectively.
  • Reduced travel time for cyclists by 10% by improving the directness of the network.

Safer Streets with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety is part of our WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.