Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
I must say I disagree with those who say the increase is and will be driven by infrastructure improvements. The culture comes first, infrastructure follows. Davis demonstrated this in reverse. The infrastructure was built there in the '70s (in response to a cultural shift), but in the late '80s through the late naughties the riders disappeared. So, just having lots of infrastructure does not get people out of their cages.
I think it takes some of each -- to change the culture requires the 'cost' of cycling to come down or the price of the alternatives to go up -- which is why high gas prices help, but without better infrastructure, most folks won't be willing to pay the price (so they'll use mass transit or other alternatives).
Recreational cycling is probably more affected by infrastructure - commuting more by price of alternatives?