Originally Posted by Helmet Head
Population density is also a key difference, as is the difficulty to use a car practically, economically and effectively in Amsterdam.
Unless they can make using a bike more practical in Portland than using a car, there can be no comparison with Amsterdam, where bike usage is clearly more practical. And as long as using a car remains reasonably practical in Portland, bike usage will remain relatively unaffected, no matter how much Amsterdamization they waste their money on.
Which is what the BTA was needling Adams about. I live in Portland-- the biggest single problem with making the downtown less car-friendly is the Portland Business Alliance. They want every square inch of dowtown accessible to the automobile, because it's "good for business."