Bike lanes connecting neighborhoods with parks and shops.

Bike-Friendly Cities: How Connected Infrastructure Boosts Home Values & Community

Mira Elwood in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the hidden economic benefits of interconnected bike paths and local amenities, transforming neighborhoods into desirable, thriving communities."

In today's urban planning, there's a growing emphasis on creating vibrant, walkable communities that prioritize the health and well-being of their residents. A key component of this vision is the development of interconnected active transportation networks, with a particular focus on bike facilities. Cities across the nation are expanding their bike lane networks, and residents are increasingly recognizing the value of these amenities.

But what impact do bike facilities have on the local economy and property values? As active transportation infrastructure gains traction, it's crucial to understand how homeowners perceive these features and how they complement existing community assets. This exploration delves into the economic impact of interconnected active transportation infrastructure, examining how bike facilities and their connections to local amenities can boost property values and enhance community appeal.

Planners are looking at ways to connect bike networks to existing infrastructure. Given the importance of local governance in these choices, understanding the impact on nearby homeowners is essential for evaluating competing projects and targeting investments to areas with the greatest potential benefits.

The Capitalization of Connectivity

Bike lanes connecting neighborhoods with parks and shops.

Research conducted in Franklin County, Ohio, provides valuable insights into how interconnected active transportation infrastructure affects property values. The study, titled "Capitalization of interconnected active transportation infrastructure," investigated the impact of connections between local amenities and bike facilities on single-family home prices. The results reveal that proximity to bike facilities generally leads to positive capitalization, particularly with on-road facilities.

The study went further, examining how interconnectivity influences property values. It turns out that the capitalization effect is not uniform; it varies depending on the types of local amenities and infrastructure links. For example, the study found that on-road bike facility connections to bus stop locations actually decreased nearby home values, while connections to local open spaces increased home values.

On-Road Facilities: Proximity to on-road bike facilities generally increases home values.
Bus Stop Connections: On-road bike facilities connected to bus stops can decrease property values.
Open Space Connections: On-road bike facilities connected to local open spaces boost property values.
Non-Road Facilities: Connectivity with public spaces for non-road facilities increases home value.

These findings highlight the importance of connectivity in active transportation planning. Homeowners place value on bike facilities that enhance access to desirable amenities and services, but they may perceive disamenities if the connections lead to undesirable outcomes, such as increased congestion or noise near bus stops. Thoughtful planning that considers the specific needs and preferences of the community is essential to maximize the benefits of active transportation investments.

Planning for a Bike-Friendly Future

Creating bike-friendly communities is more than just building bike lanes; it's about strategically connecting people to the places they want to go. By understanding the nuances of how residents perceive and value these connections, planners can make informed decisions that lead to increased property values, healthier lifestyles, and more vibrant, thriving communities.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.09.010, Alternate LINK

Title: Capitalization Of Interconnected Active Transportation Infrastructure

Subject: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

Journal: Landscape and Urban Planning

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Cristina Connolly, Mitchell R. Livy, Yun Qiu, H. Allen Klaiber

Published: 2019-02-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does interconnected active transportation infrastructure, like bike facilities, impact property values according to the research done in Franklin County, Ohio?

The study "Capitalization of interconnected active transportation infrastructure" in Franklin County, Ohio, demonstrated that proximity to bike facilities generally increases property values, particularly with on-road facilities. However, the impact varies depending on the connections. On-road bike facility connections to bus stops decreased home values, while connections to local open spaces increased them. For non-road facilities, connectivity with public spaces also raised home values. This illustrates that the value of bike facilities isn't just about their existence but their strategic integration with other amenities.

Why might connecting on-road bike facilities to bus stops decrease nearby home values, according to the study?

The study in Franklin County revealed that on-road bike facilities connected to bus stops can decrease property values. This could be due to increased congestion, noise, or other disamenities associated with bus stops, which outweigh the benefits of bike accessibility. Planners must carefully consider these factors when designing bike networks to avoid unintended negative impacts on homeowners.

How can planners ensure that investments in active transportation infrastructure, like bike lanes, lead to increased property values and healthier lifestyles?

Planners can maximize the positive impact of active transportation infrastructure by focusing on strategic connectivity. This involves connecting bike facilities to desirable amenities like local open spaces, parks, and community centers. Understanding how residents perceive and value these connections is crucial. Thoughtful planning ensures that bike infrastructure enhances access to valued destinations, leading to increased property values and healthier lifestyles.

What does 'capitalization' mean in the context of interconnected active transportation infrastructure and its impact on property values?

The concept of 'capitalization' in this context refers to how the value of interconnected active transportation infrastructure, specifically bike facilities and their connections to local amenities, is reflected in single-family home prices. Positive capitalization means that proximity to these facilities increases property values, while negative capitalization indicates a decrease. This economic impact is crucial for evaluating infrastructure projects and targeting investments effectively.

What is involved in creating bike-friendly communities beyond just constructing bike lanes, and how does this holistic approach impact property values and community well-being?

Creating bike-friendly communities involves more than just building bike lanes. It requires strategic planning to connect people to desired locations, which affects both property values and community well-being. Understanding residents' perceptions and the nuances of how they value different connections allows planners to make informed decisions. This integrated approach leads to increased property values, healthier lifestyles, and more vibrant, thriving communities.