Azerbaijan.US
A discussion on urban planning and transport priorities has resurfaced in Azerbaijan, after a member of parliament questioned the effectiveness of newly introduced bike lanes that, he argues, are rarely used but reduce road capacity.
Speaking at a parliamentary committee meeting, MP Hikmet Babaoğlu said that recent road markings and the expansion of dedicated bicycle lanes have noticeably narrowed major streets, without clear evidence of demand.
According to Babaoğlu, infrastructure decisions should be guided by real traffic data rather than formal planning trends.
“These measures should be implemented where they are truly needed. Let’s conduct a simple assessment. If only one bicycle passes through a lane over three days, what is the justification for narrowing the road?” he said.
The remarks have reignited a broader debate about how cities balance sustainability goals with everyday mobility needs. While bike lanes are widely promoted as part of modern, environmentally friendly urban design, critics argue that copying such models without accounting for local habits and usage patterns can worsen congestion rather than improve transport efficiency.
Supporters of cycling infrastructure counter that low usage is often the result of fragmented networks and safety concerns, not a lack of demand, and that long-term planning is required before behavioral change becomes visible.
The exchange highlights a familiar challenge for rapidly evolving cities: whether to prioritize immediate traffic flow or invest in infrastructure intended to shape future mobility. In Azerbaijan’s case, the discussion suggests that data-driven planning – measuring actual usage, traffic density, and urban needs – may become increasingly central to transport policy decisions.
