With an estimated 20 million inhabitants in its metropolitan region, São Paulo is one of the largest cities in the world. Surprisingly, it only has around 30 kilometers of bike paths, which means the city is currently vastly under-served in terms of road space for bicycles, despite an estimated 400,000 bicycle users in greater São Paulo.
Constant, aggressive traffic and car-oriented street design make cycling in São Paulo a dangerous activity today.
With ever-worsening traffic jams and an automobile fleet that grows at 10 % a year, the city’s government is beginning to look to other solutions for mobility, including the cycling. The global discussion on global warming has also reached municipal politics, thanks in part to the strong presence of the Clinton Climate Initiative, which has highlighted the advantages of cycling.
The city’s main contribution to promoting cycling in São Paulo is focused on a pilot bicycle path in the neighborhood of Butantã. This 15 kilometer bike path goes by some of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, strongly middle and working-class areas, and connects to one of the largest favelas (slums) – Paraísopolis. The bike path passes in front of the legendary Morumbí soccer stadium and goes to the Cidade Universitaria (University City), exposing it to a large number of people from various social backgrounds and increasing its potential impact on other parts of the city.
Given the high visibility of Butantã, the new trial bike path could be a unique opportunity to promote cycling throughout the metropolis. If successfully implemented, the network could be extended to surrounding neighborhoods and throughout the city, thereby lowering emissions, and improving mobility and quality for all of São Paulo’s inhabitants.
