A pop-up bike lane (also known as a pop-up bike lane or temporary bike lanes) are bike lanes configured on a short-term basis to provide more space and safety for cyclists in dangerous situations or in the event of sudden changes in traffic conditions.[1]​.

These routes were organized in several cities during the COVID-19 pandemic and are generally intended as temporary cycling infrastructure. Cycle lanes organized during the pandemic are intended to help cyclists maintain spatial distance to minimize the risk of infection with the SARS CoV-2 virus. Other reasons for emerging bike lanes during the pandemic are to alleviate public transportation, the use of which is associated with an increased risk of infection, and to promote physical activity and thus strengthen the immune system.[2]​.

Bike lanes, which are usually marked with yellow lines and beacons at the construction site, were usually established by redesigning the right lane or a previous parking lane as a bike lane.[3]​.

Within the framework of what some call tactical urbanism, multiple emerging cycle path initiatives have emerged.[4]​ These types of strategies have grown in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and promoted by multiple groups.

In Latin America, the implementation of emerging bicycle lanes in Bogotá (Colombia) was a pioneer. In the first phase, on Monday, March 16, 2020, a 22 km corridor was implemented as an alternative option to public transportation. The corridor was enabled from 6 to 9 in the morning and from 5 to 9 at night. Claudia López Hernández, mayor of this city, announced the measure in a national news program and the Secretary of Mobility, Nicolás Francisco Estupiñán Alvarado, spread the information through his social networks. In the morning, the circulation of 1,500 cyclists per hour was reported.[5]​ On April 23, 2020, the capital of Ecuador, Quito, joined the initiative with 62.7 km on a route known to the 30 thousand people who made recreational use of this space on Sundays.[6]​.

The first pop-up cycle route in Berlin was created on March 25, 2020 in Hallesches Ufer at a cost of approximately 9,500 euros per kilometer of pop-up cycle path.[7]​ Pop-up cycle routes in Berlin were introduced for a limited period until May 31, 2020, with the prospect of being permanent in accordance with the Berlin Mobility Act.

In Mexico, in March 2020, the Bicycle Mayor's Office of Mexico City presented a proposal[5]​ and on May 24 of that same year the Ministry of Mobility announced a 54-kilometer emerging lane to create an alternative mobility and help reduce mass transit crowding on lines 1 and 2 of the Metrobús "Metrobús (Mexico City)"). Its permanence will be evaluated according to its use.[8]​ Days later, it was announced that Guadalajara "Guadalajara (México)") (Jalisco, Mexico) would also implement 13 km of emerging bicycle lanes.[9]​ Other Mexican cities that created emerging bicycle lanes are Zapopan in Jalisco, San Pedro Garza García in Nuevo León, Puebla (Puebla)[10]​ and Hermosillo in Sonora.[11]​.