Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, Government of the city of Buenos Aires
The Pitch
The City of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Secretariat of Transport and Argentina’s Secretariat of Public Works improved the city’s cyclability by introducing EcoBici bike stations and new bike lanes—encouraging the adoption of sustainable transportation and enhancing connectivity for residents through a low-cost option.
The Problem
Buenos Aires’ car-centric design caused urban sprawl and limited public transit options. Bike lanes were limited to the city’s business district to meet commuter demands, making it difficult for people to bike throughout the city.
The Process
- Expanded bike lanes to reach 41 of the city’s 48 boroughs, with hopes to further grow
- Encouraged bike usage via creation of two-meter-wide bicycle lanes and additions of physical barriers between bike lanes and the road
- Disincentivized car usage by limiting the road area dedicated to them
- Established EcoBici stations in dense urban areas to enable people who do not own bikes to use them for free
- Worked with Banco Ciudad to create a program that enables community members to purchase a bike in fifty installments
The Impact
- Constructed 250 kilometers of bicycle lanes, all self-financed through public-private collaboration
- Helped make the EcoBici program free for users via a financing program with Banco Ciudad
- Makes bike ownership a possibility for those who cannot pay the full amount up front
- Proved the power of collaboration and locally initiated, led and financed interventions
- Turned Buenos Aires into a bikeable city
- Promotes safe cycling culture: Over 350,000 people each year take a course on bicycle safety
