Originally Posted by spare_wheel

Because segregated infrastructure is by definition space constrained it can become slowest-common-denominator transport. In fact, in some european cities complaints about slowness and over-crowding by cyclists has led to the removal of cycle tracks and the installation of 2 meter wide bike lanes (where there is clearly room to pass).

While the more fanatical proponents of segregated infrastructure like to pretend that trip lengths in North America would be similar if only we have a network of Dutch style cycle paths, all available data (and common sense) indicates that its different here. north american cyclists travel greater distances and at higher rates of speeds not because they are "enthusiasts" but because they do not live in a small city with a warren of medieval to victorian era streets.

arguably the most bike friendly major city in europe:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=amste...lands&t=h&z=13

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Amste...therlands&z=12

note how outside of the incredibly compact city center AMS is surrounded by farms and fully separated communities.

arguably the most bike friendly major city in the usa:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=portl...h,+Oregon&z=13

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=portl...h,+Oregon&z=12

grid streets (and apart from forest park) far more sprawl. ironically portland is a city with one of the strictest land-use policies in the usa.


most american cities look like this:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Atlan...,+Georgia&z=12