Bicycle Infrastructure and Traffic Congestion: Evidence from DC's Capital Bikeshare

Abstract

We explore the impact of bicycle-sharing infrastructure on urban transportation. Accounting for selection bias in a matching framework, we estimate a causal effect of the Capital Bikeshare on traffic congestion in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. We exploit a unique traffic dataset that is finely defined on a spatial and temporal scale. Our approach examines within-city commuting decisions as opposed to traffic patterns on major thruways. Empirical results suggest that the availability of a bikeshare reduces traffic congestion by 2 to 3% within a neighborhood. We also identify geographic spillovers that may counteract benefits from reductions in local pollution.

Keywords: traffic congestion, public transportation, bicycle-sharing, pollution, environmental externalities

JEL Classification: L91, H40, Q53, R41, R53