Real estate developers and cities are becoming more responsive to cyclists’ needs by creating an increasing number of communities tailored to those who would rather bike than drive. A new ULI publication, Active Transportation and Real Estate: The Next Frontier, identifies this trend as “trail-oriented development,” the latest phase in the evolution of urban development from car-centric to people-friendly design.
Similar to transit-oriented development, trail-oriented development takes advantage of and leverages infrastructure that supports active ways of getting around in urban areas. “Communities big and large are now investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Their efforts are reshaping destinations across the globe, and have the potential to benefit people of all income brackets, as biking provides mobility for those needing or wanting a less expensive alternative to automobile ownership, maintenance, and use,” the report states.
The report, written by ULI senior vice president Rachel MacCleery and ULI senior resident fellow Edward McMahon, examines the impact of the growing interest in active transportation on economic development, public health, air quality, community design, and real estate design and investment. “At its core, the bicycle boom is about people choosing a lifestyle that gives them more options and requires less dependence on motor vehicles,” it says. “Through supporting bike infrastructure, real estate professionals can play a significant role in creating healthier, more sustainable communities. They can also help position their projects and communities in a marketplace that increasingly values active transportation.”
Ten real estate developments projects are profiled: Bici Flats, a multifamily development in Des Moines, Iowa; Circa (multifamily) in Indianapolis; Flats at Bethesda Avenue (mixed-use), Bethesda, Maryland; Gotham West (mixed-use), New York City; Hassalo on Eighth (mixed-use), Portland, Oregon; MoZaic (mixed-use), Minneapolis; Ponce City Market (mixed-use), Atlanta; Silver Moon Lodge (mixed-use), Albuquerque, New Mexico; 250 City Road (mixed-use), London; and Westwood Residences (multifamily) in Singapore.
Amenities in the projects include bike storage; extra-wide hallways and bike elevators; a bike repair room; bike cleaning stations; a bike valet; shower and/or locker room facilities; bike parts or a mechanic on site; on-site bike rentals or a bike-share system; a bike park-and-ride system; and direct access to trails.
The projects show that “leading development practitioners are recognizing the competitive advantage of investing in active transportation amenities,” the report states. “By leveraging and enhancing access to walking and bicycling facilities, they are helping to initiate a win-win cycle of mutually reinforcing private and public sector investment in active transportation in communities around the world.”
Active Transportation and Real Estate also profiles five catalytic active transportation infrastructure investments, such as trails, bike lane networks, and bike-sharing systems, which have supported real estate development opportunities. Infrastructure projects profiled are as follows: The Circuit Trails, an off-road trail system winding throughout Greater Philadelphia; cycle superhighways in Copenhagen and London; Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis; and bike-sharing systems in Paris, Montreal, and Hangzhou, China.
Shared themes among the projects include the following:
- Active transportation infrastructure can catalyze real estate development. Trails, bike lanes, and bike-sharing systems can improve pedestrian and cyclist access to centers of employment, recreational destinations, and public transit, boosting the appeal of development near the infrastructure as a result.
- Active transportation systems encourage healthier lifestyles. Convenient access to active transportation systems makes the healthy choice the easy choice, helping improve community residents’ fitness and overall well-being.
- Investments in trails, bike lanes, and bicycle-sharing systems have high levels of return on investment. Regions and cities have found that relatively small investments in active transportation can yield high economic returns, due to improved health and environmental outcomes.
- There is evidence of a correlation between access to active transportation facilities and increased property values. In urban and suburban markets, studies have shown that direct access to trails, bike-sharing systems, and bike lanes can have a positive impact on property values.
- A reciprocal relationship exists between the private and public sectors in terms of maximizing investments in active transportation. Developers are benefiting from access to sought-after locations that are close to publicly financed active transportation routes, but they are also making direct investments in active transportation by helping to finance improvements to the systems.
The report points to evidence indicating that proximity to bike trails raises property values. For instance, the value of properties within a block of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail have soared nearly 150 percent since the trail’s opening in 2008; and the value of properties near the Katy Trail in Dallas have increased 80 percent. Homes close to Atlanta’s BeltLine have started selling within 24 hours; before the trail project began, homes in the same area stayed on the market for two to three months. And in Minneapolis, every quarter-mile (0.4 km) of proximity to an off-street bike facility raises the value of a home by an additional $510.
The study also cites examples of the positive impact of bicycle access on commercial and economic development. In New York City’s Times Square, building rents rose more than 70 percent following the addition of bike lanes in 2010. In both Salt Lake City and San Francisco, the replacement of some street parking with protected bike lanes along specific corridors resulted in higher retail sales in those areas. Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australia, the government concluded that building 124 miles (200 km) of bikeways would generate more than $350 million (U.S. dollars) in economic benefits.
In terms of health and wellness benefits, the report points to savings of $103 million (U.S. dollars) in Sydney due to the increase in bike trips and reduced traffic congestion. Also, in Philadelphia, a 2011 study found that residents’ use of the biking trail system avoids $199 million per year in direct medical costs and $596 million in indirect costs.
The increase in trail-oriented development “is indicative of a worldwide trend of civic and private sector investment in active transportation facilities, and the growing demand for walkable and bikable places,” the report says.
Active Transportation and Real Estate was published as part of ULI’s Building Healthy Places Initiative, which seeks to leverage the power of the Institute’s global networks to shape projects and places in ways that improve the health of people and communities. The report was made possible with support from the Colorado Health Foundation.
In addition to the foundation’s support, the Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship Program provided research assistance for the report.
