The Road to a Better Commute

Putting roadways on “diets” can make biking and driving safer at the same time.

September 10, 2015

Getting more people to bike to work is a win-win for the climate and public health. But the way many of our roads are designed makes choosing two wheels over four an accident waiting to happen. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this video, city planner Jeff Speck and 3-D artist Spencer Boomhower illustrate how updating existing roadways can easily make cycling safer without jamming up traffic.

The benefits aren’t just for pedal pushers, either—so-called “road diets” decrease car accidents and speeding, too. A new report out this week says cities around the globe could save $17 trillion by 2050 by promoting greener transportation. So biking is good for our bottoms and our bottom lines. 


onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Policy Primer

In New York, a tax on driving downtown would also generate sorely needed funding for the transit system that most residents rely on for their daily commutes.

Personal Action

Everything you need to know to switch to an electric car today.

onEarth Story

Quantum leaps in electric vehicle technology are causing some analysts to revise their estimates of when we’ll no longer crave so much crude.

Image courtesy of Tesla Motors
onEarth Story

It appears that 325,000 revved-up Tesla fans did—and they may represent just the tip of the iceberg.

Rockies Dispatch

Governor Hickenlooper wants to rev up the transition away from gas power, but there are a few roadblocks to clear.

Policy Primer

So many technological innovations in the automobile industry stem directly from guidelines intended to reduce gas guzzling. If we lose these guidelines, we’ll also lose a lot of our workforce.

Join Us

When you sign up you'll become a member of NRDC's Activist Network. We will keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports.