32 / Induced demand, Jevons paradox, & wider bike paths.

Expanding highways and adding lanes doesn't solve traffic. If it did, the cities that have been doing so for decades would have fixed their traffic woes. But, they're worse than ever.

Through the continuously misguided approach to transportation, we've learned a lot about the principle of induced demand, and Jevons paradox. In short, when we increase capacity in the name of efficiency, what we actually increase is demand and use. Thus, efficiency actually goes down.

What if we were to induce the demand for other methods of transportation? With more and better bike infrastructure, would we not see a rise in those biking? Paris has done just this, and it is working. Biking has now passed driving in the city, as a means of transportation.

Your move, *insert name of American city*.

For context:

A great walkthrough on why expanding highways doesn't solve traffic (via Business Insider).

Increased roadway capacity induces additional vehicle miles traveled in the short-run, and even more in the long-run (via National Center for Sustainable Transportation).

Shots of the Salt River Shore and Rio Salado Pathway in Phoenix, Arizona (via AllTrails).

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