Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

Which Matters More — A Bike Network’s Connectivity or Its Density?

The "connectivity" of bike infrastructure a city has matters, but not as much as some other aspects. Image: University of Minnesota
Adding to total bike lane mileage without creating a denser network does not seem to affect ridership. Image: University of Minnesota
The "connectivity" of bike infrastructure a city has matters, but not as much as some other aspects. Image: University of Minnesota

What's the secret to designing a bicycle network that will get people riding?

A pair of researchers at the University of Minnesota recently set out to test the theory that a connected bike network -- where bike lanes provide continuous routes between many possible destinations -- is a major determinant of how many people bike. What they actually found was a little unexpected. Connected bike infrastructure matters, according to the study [PDF], but not as much as the density of bike infrastructure.

UMN's Jessica Schoner and David Levinson used GIS software to map cities' bike networks and rank them according to connectivity, size, density, and other factors. ("Connectivity" is basically a measure of the degree to which bike lanes intersect within a city, and "density" is a measure of bike lane mileage within a given area.) Then, using Census data, they determined the relationship between each factor and the number of people who commute by bike.

Bike lane density was the most important factor, with each standard deviation (about 1 kilometer of bike infrastructure per square kilometer) associated with an additional 150 bike commuters per 10,000 commuters. For connectivity, one standard deviation correlated to an additional 37 bike commuters. Other factors -- the overall size of the bike network, the directness of routes within the system, and fragmentation (separate clusters of bike lanes within the same city) -- were not shown to have a statistically significant effect.

Schoner and Levinson caution that correlation does not equal causation, so it's unclear whether the dense networks enticed more people to bike, or if higher numbers of cyclists helped create denser bike networks. The study also did not distinguish between protected bike lanes, painted bike lanes, and off-street paths, so it does not account for the degree of separation between cyclists and traffic.

But the study does indicate that the density of bike lanes within a city could be an under-appreciated factor in getting more people to ride. "These findings suggest that cities hoping to maximize the impacts of their bicycle infrastructure investments should first consider densifying their bicycle network before expanding its breadth," the authors concluded.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Wednesday’s Headlines Are on the Cutting Edge

Mr. Duffy goes to Washington to talk about ending spending for "green" and "equity" programs.

April 2, 2025

State DOTs Aren’t Stacking Up On Sustainability and Equity

Vermont is the best state DOT — but advocates say it, and every other state, needs to do better.

April 2, 2025

Virginia Lawmakers Approve Speed-Limiting Devices for Worst Speeders

A Virginia law allowing judges to mandate speed limiters in dangerous drivers’ vehicles could spark similar legislation regulating excessive speeding in other states.

April 1, 2025

‘The Carnage is Intolerable’: Rep. Jamie Raskin on Why Bike Safety is Becoming Bipartisan

"We need to reject any insinuation that it's not a national priority to make local roads safer."

April 1, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Follow the Playbook

It's Project 2025. Don't let anything distract you.

April 1, 2025
See all posts