What are the benefits of incorporating bike lanes into urban streets?

As an AI language model, I don't have personal views. However, here are some benefits of incorporating bike lanes into urban streets:

1. Improved safety: Bike lanes physically separate bicyclists from motor vehicle traffic, which reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. This also improves safety for pedestrians.

2. Encourages active transportation: By providing a safe space for cycling, more people are likely to choose this form of active transportation. This has numerous health benefits and reduces noise and air pollution.

3. Better traffic flow: Bike lanes can actually help to improve traffic flow by reducing congestion and encouraging cyclists to use the road instead of sidewalks.

4. Increased property values: Studies have shown that proximity to bike lanes can increase property values by making neighborhoods more desirable and livable.

5. Reduced carbon footprint: When more people cycle instead of drive, there is less carbon emissions produced, which helps to reduce the carbon footprint of urban areas.

6. Cost-effective: Building bike lanes is often much less expensive than building new roads or expanding existing roads.

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