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Why buyers like bikes

Why buyers like bikes

Study shows cycleways are better for house prices, writes Sally Lindsay.

By: Sally Lindsay

28 January 2025

A Canterbury University study has shown the density of cycleways around houses is becoming a subtle but important factor for homebuyers.

Buyers who value active transport options and local connectivity feel cycleways are an asset to urban areas, both economically and socially.

The research done by students of the Research for Resilient Environments and Communities paper led by professor Simon Kingham were provided with the question, which the community raised.

Student Caleb Sullivan was part of a research team that worked with a local planner to see what impact cycleways had on property prices.

They then used an internationally recognised hedonic pricing model, which figures out how different features of a house, like its size, location, or amenities, affect its overall price, using this model they found cycleways had a small positive effect on house sale prices.

Sullivan says those in real estate may not recognise the value of cycleways.

“We interviewed a few local real estate agents and property developers who noted that cycleways were not something they considered as other factors, such as on-street parking, took priority.”

However, when analysing property advertising material they found this was a selling point listed for many properties on real estate and property sites.

“This study reinforces that cycleways are not a detriment to residential property values. Instead, they can be a selling point for some properties,” professor Kingham says.

The team also analysed whether there was a price impact on houses who had lost parking for cycleways, however they found no significant correlation.

“This research contributes to a growing body of evidence that cycleways are an asset to urban areas, both economically and socially. These findings should encourage city planners and policymakers to confidently invest in cycleways as part of urban development strategies.”

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