Transportation
When Does a Cycling Boom Go Wrong? When Everyone Rides on the Sidewalk
In Santiago de Chile, a failure to accommodate all the new bikes on the road has led to a dangerous situation for pedestrians.
In sprawling Santiago de Chile, the share of daily commuters who travel by bicycle is increasing 20 percent annually, cyclist fatalities are dropping (34 percent between 2011 and 2012), and bike-share is expanding (now in three neighborhoods). An estimated 800,000 santiaguinos get around town on two wheels. So why aren't cyclists celebrating?
Despite growing ridership, Santiago's transportation infrastructure "is not high quality, and not sufficient," according to César Garrido, a local cycling advocate. He told a recent CNN Chile panel: "Five years ago it may have been advanced—now it’s saturated."