As fear surrounding the Coronavirus is taking hold of New York City's residents and commuters, bicycle commuting, a mode of transport that has enjoyed a steady resurgence over the last decade, has jumped more than 50% in some places compared to the same period last year. New York City's efforts to promote social distancing amongst its commuters, which is a nearly impossible task to achieve in a subway or bus during rush hour, has inspired a number of commuters who would ordinarily take mass transit, to join the throngs of bicycle commuters who have already discovered the ease, convenience and health benefits of commuting around the city on a bicycle.
This massive increase in bicycle commuting can be attributed to commuters' efforts to avoid touching New York City bus and subway surfaces that may be tainted by COVID-19 and standing next to fellow passengers who are compelled to sneeze or cough, amongst other germs that have been known to make their home in New York City's mass transit system.
Further promoting the use of bicycles as a viable form of commuting around the city is New York's Mayor de Blasio. While addressing the city, he emphasized the risk of being exposed to the Coronavirus while taking mass transit and advised New York's commuter population to mitigate their risk of contracting COVID-19 by avoiding crowded public transit by either commuting around the city on bicycle or by foot.
Just prior to the proliferation of the Coronavirus, there was an average of 490,000 bicycle trips taken each day in New York City on more than 1,300 miles of bicycle lanes. Relying on the messaging from state and federal officials that we may all be in this situation for the long haul, the growth of bicycles as one of the primary modes of commuting around the city will likely increase as fears of contracting the Coronavirus or the like lingers.