In São Paulo, Brazil, the expansion of bike lanes and parks encourages residents to cycle more

According to a study that analyzed the behavior of 1,500 São Paulo residents between 2014 and 2024, the implementation of new bike lanes, parks, and other public facilities in the Brazilian city has encouraged transportation-related physical activity and promoted public health benefits. The researchers found that the presence of bike lanes within 500 meters of residents’ homes was a key factor in keeping them active and encouraging cycling.

“We’re observing a natural experiment in São Paulo. The increase in public spaces highlights how urban changes encourage active travel, such as cycling,” Alex Florindo, a professor at the University of São Paulo’s School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities (EACH-USP) and the research coordinator, tells Agência FAPESP.

The study, which was supported by FAPESP, was described in an article published in April in the Journal of Transport & Health.

The period analyzed in the study was marked by a significant expansion of the city’s bike lane network. According to city government data, São Paulo’s bike lane network grew from 242 to 743 kilometers (km) between 2014 and 2024, and the city gained 15 new municipal parks.

The researchers assessed that the expansion of these open public spaces not only encouraged active transportation but also impacted public health. They argue that physical activity is a key determinant of health and that regular physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Several studies have also demonstrated the benefits of exercise for mental health, including reduced rates of depression and anxiety, as well as improvements in psychological well-being and quality of life.

From this perspective, the authors argue that integrating bike lanes into urban planning is a public health strategy, not merely a logistical choice. The study states that these interventions contribute to healthier cities by reducing dependence on cars, air pollution, and traffic accidents. Thus, they serve as an important mechanism for mitigating climate change.

Increase in bike lanes

From 2014 to 2024, a longitudinal study monitored levels of cycling-related physical activity (cycling for at least ten minutes a day) and self-reported health conditions among residents from all parts of the city using in-person and telephone interviews.

The data were cross-referenced with indicators of participants’ access to open public spaces within a 500-meter radius of their homes, which is the average distance an adult can walk in 10 to 15 minutes. This information was obtained from a georeferenced dataset of São Paulo streets made available by the Geosampa platform. 

Managed by the Municipal Department of Urban Development, the platform provides updated data annually on parks, squares, bike paths, train and subway stations, and other public facilities in the city.

“By cross-referencing this information, we were able to establish correlations to determine whether people’s access to these open public spaces over the years is contributing to changes in certain behaviors or health outcomes,” Florindo explains.

The analyses revealed that bike paths experienced the most significant growth in São Paulo between 2014 and 2024. The proportion of surveyed households located near these new facilities increased from 22% to 33.2%. Parks, on the other hand, recorded a moderate increase during the same period, from 9.4% to 12.7%, while public squares remained stable, varying from 68.4% to 69.3%.

Although bicycle use for commuting declined among the participating population over the decade, the group with access to two or three open public spaces near home remained stable.

“These spaces have come to act as a protective factor against the decline in bicycle use over time,” says Danilo Dias Santana, a postdoctoral fellow in the Group for Epidemiological Studies and Research on Physical Activity and Health at EACH-USP and the first author of the article.

Uneven distribution

According to Santana, the 2014–2015 biennium was chosen as the starting point for the longitudinal study because the new Master Plan for São Paulo was approved in July 2014.

The plan aimed to increase the availability of urban amenities in areas with significant infrastructure deficits and expand the number of public parks to benefit less tree-covered regions.

However, despite the increase in open public spaces promoted by the plan, the researchers note that the expansion of bike lanes was more concentrated in the city’s wealthier areas.

“We’re presenting the data to city departments and the São Paulo Municipal Council, and we’re engaging in dialogue beyond academic circles with the goal of reorienting certain policies. More bike lanes need to be built not only in the central region but also in the central-west, eastern, and southern zones, where such infrastructure is less prevalent,” says Florindo.

However, bike lanes are not the only solution to encourage bicycle use in São Paulo and other state capitals across the country. Other measures are needed, such as designating streets for recreational use, expanding the bike-sharing system, installing bike parking at major transit stations, engaging with families, and providing shower facilities along commuting and school routes. In addition, the researcher notes that changes not directly related to urban planning are necessary.

“Even with the construction of more bike lanes, we found that cycling in the city of São Paulo isn’t increasing significantly for a number of reasons. Bicycles are still expensive in Brazil, and cycling is a physical activity mainly practiced by men.”

Previous studies by Florindo have shown that bike lanes in São Paulo are used not only for bicycle traffic, but also for walking and running due to the scarcity of open public spaces in the city. “Bike lanes are strategic for promoting these activities,” he says.

From motorcycles to bicycles

The case of Marcelo Heim de Andrada e Silva, a 40-year-old photographer, perfectly illustrates the findings of the EACH-USP study. After breaking his shoulder in a motorcycle accident two years ago, he decided to change his commute routine drastically. He gave up his motorized vehicle and started using a traditional (“analog,” as he humorously contrasts it with electric bikes) bicycle to travel 10 kilometers daily between his home in the Butantã neighborhood and Paulista Avenue, where he works.

For him, the decision to make the bicycle his permanent mode of transportation depended on the construction of new urban infrastructure in his neighborhood.

“They built a bike bridge next to the Jockey Club bridge leading to the Eldorado shopping mall [in the western part of São Paulo]. Before, I’d have to take a huge detour: go through USP [the Cidade Universitária campus], head all the way to the other side to cross the bridge, and then come back via Faria Lima Avenue. When they built that bridge, I was just waiting for it to be finished so I could start riding there directly by bike. I found a direct route,” says the photographer.

In addition to his daily commute, the west-side resident began using his bike for leisure on weekends, visiting places such as SESC’s (Social Service of Commerce, a nonprofit organization) sociocultural facilities.

His perception of urban space aligns with the researchers’ warnings about future urban planning challenges in São Paulo. He notes a significant increase in the number of cyclists and has even encountered “bike traffic” around Largo da Batata and Faria Lima Avenue. However, he also highlights the new conflicts generated by the growth of cycling and the lack of space on the roads.

“There are a lot of people using them, but the streets are still designed for cars. Ninety percent of the road is for cars, leaving almost nothing for the rest,” Silva points out. He also highlights the vulnerability of traditional cyclists in the face of the rise in electric bikes that exceed the speed limit or ride against traffic. However, the safety challenge in São Paulo goes beyond traffic. Recently, the photographer had his bicycle stolen on the USP campus, which is a sign that improvements to public safety and parking infrastructure are still needed for the cycling experience in the city.

About São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe