I myself happen to be torn between advocating for on-street infrastructure improvements for bicyclists and just letting things be. I think some improvements are necessary, particularly the provision of abundant safe and secure bike parking, and more motorist education, but I also think expecting any city in the US to provide complete city-wide separated facilities like Amsterdam or Copenhagen is unrealistic and out of reach.
I also don't happen to think that cyclists should be made to pay for any improvements that are made; things got so out of balance in the second half of the 20th century with regard to subsidization of motoring, that the pendulum needs to swing back the other way and society at large needs to recognize the benefits of more cycling and less motoring and foot the bill for any improvements, not the cyclists themselves.
Last edited by randya; 10-18-09 at 07:47 PM.