I like to call those lanes you pictured "Suicide Lanes". I don't even think poor people will use them. They'd rather go into debt to get a car or take a bus. The only people on them are those who got dumped onto them unexpectedly or the deranged.
In places where cycling is successful (due to some combination of planned and 'guerrilla' cycling routes), the dominant view of cycling is as 'commuter' transport. That seems to be a major hurdle in places where cycling is considered 'recreation'... Beyond the infrastructure in cycle-friendly places, the cost and design of bikes is just different, generally helmets are not legislated, and there are areas dedicated to bike storage scattered everywhere (again, either planned or guerrilla).
I sometimes wonder if a city just flooded the zone - add the cost of a cheap commuter bike to every car registration bill, and literally hand the driver a 'free' bike with their car registration - if it could change that 'recreation' mindset.
I cycle a lot in a blue suburban area where I don’t encounter much hostility to bikes, or any outside of drivers. When people see me commuting or running errands on bike they always react the same: wow that’s cool. And then they don’t even consider doing it themselves.
I am involved with numerous groups which promote 'utilitarian cycling' in the greater Montréal region and sometimes we are offered table space at various 'Bicycle Salon' style events (not sure what it is called in English) which tend to cater to fancy equipment and bike tourism crowds. And every year it is the same thing:
Question from some random passerby: "And what do you do (in reference to our table)?"
Response: "We promote cycling as a legitimate form of transportation"
Question: "You ride bikes ... in the city? In the winter? Isn't that dangerous?"
And this is a large event which attracts thousands of people who are proud to call themselves 'cyclists'!
I like to call those lanes you pictured "Suicide Lanes". I don't even think poor people will use them. They'd rather go into debt to get a car or take a bus. The only people on them are those who got dumped onto them unexpectedly or the deranged.
In places where cycling is successful (due to some combination of planned and 'guerrilla' cycling routes), the dominant view of cycling is as 'commuter' transport. That seems to be a major hurdle in places where cycling is considered 'recreation'... Beyond the infrastructure in cycle-friendly places, the cost and design of bikes is just different, generally helmets are not legislated, and there are areas dedicated to bike storage scattered everywhere (again, either planned or guerrilla).
I sometimes wonder if a city just flooded the zone - add the cost of a cheap commuter bike to every car registration bill, and literally hand the driver a 'free' bike with their car registration - if it could change that 'recreation' mindset.
I cycle a lot in a blue suburban area where I don’t encounter much hostility to bikes, or any outside of drivers. When people see me commuting or running errands on bike they always react the same: wow that’s cool. And then they don’t even consider doing it themselves.
I am involved with numerous groups which promote 'utilitarian cycling' in the greater Montréal region and sometimes we are offered table space at various 'Bicycle Salon' style events (not sure what it is called in English) which tend to cater to fancy equipment and bike tourism crowds. And every year it is the same thing:
Question from some random passerby: "And what do you do (in reference to our table)?"
Response: "We promote cycling as a legitimate form of transportation"
Question: "You ride bikes ... in the city? In the winter? Isn't that dangerous?"
And this is a large event which attracts thousands of people who are proud to call themselves 'cyclists'!