Comment, I Want to Ride My Bicycle: Why and How Cities Plan for Bicycle Infrastructure

Seher examines the legal and statutory frameworks governing bicycle infrastructure planning in American cities. The article analyzes why cities and states should plan for bicycle transportation, addressing health benefits, environmental advantages, and safety considerations. Seher explores legal mandates requiring states and municipalities to incorporate bicycle planning into transportation policy under federal legislation like the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The comment examines how governments plan for bicycle facilities through regulatory frameworks addressing design standards and liability concerns. Seher investigates how bicyclists are legally classified and how different bicycle facility types create varying legal responsibilities for government entities. The author discusses government liability exposure when constructing or designating bicycle facilities. The comment concludes by examining comprehensive bicycle plans from Oregon and Portland as models of effective planning. Seher's analysis demonstrates how legal frameworks facilitate or constrain cities' ability to develop comprehensive bicycle transportation systems promoting public health and environmental sustainability.

Topics: Administrative Law

Keywords: bicycle infrastructure · transportation planning · municipal law · public health · environmental law