An Olympian Task: Replicating Paris's Bike Boom in Los Angeles - Streetsblog USA

"The story of the legacy mobility improvements was non-linear and required vision, tenacity, and coordinated implementation. Initial plans for Paris 2024 focused exclusively on bus- and rail-based public transportation. Just two years before the opening ceremony, existing bike routes to the venues were unmarked and dangerous. Local cycling advocacy groups urged Olympic organizers to integrate active transportation into their mobility plans, warning that public transit alone would not be able to handle the anticipated 15 million visitors."

"With strong community interest aligned with Hidalgo's political resolve, Paris achieved a remarkable turnaround. In just two years, the city introduced 34 miles of new bike routes, added 46,000 rental bikes, and created over 27,000 bike parking spaces. By the time the 2024 Games began, all 35 Olympic venues were safely accessible by bike, leading an estimated five percent of spectators to cycle to the events."

"As Los Angeles gears up to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, cycling advocates are looking to Paris 2024 - hailed as the "first bikeable Olympics" - for key lessons. The Paris Games not only introduced extensive cycling infrastructure but also cemented the city's reputation as a bike-friendly capital, a shift marked by a steady rise in ridership. The story of the legacy mobility improvements was non-linear and required vision, tenacity, and coordinated implementation."

Initial Paris 2024 mobility plans prioritized bus and rail, leaving bike routes to venues unmarked and dangerous two years before the Games. Cycling advocacy groups formed a coalition, staged a high-profile Olympic torch relay by bike, and pushed organizers and Mayor Hidalgo to honor a bikeable agenda. In two years, Paris added 34 miles of bike routes, 46,000 rental bikes, and over 27,000 bike parking spaces, making all 35 Olympic venues safely bike-accessible. About five percent of spectators cycled to events. Post-Games, routes remained open and bike racks were redistributed into public spaces.

Read at Streetsblog