The "High" cost of fuel over here is having an effect. Gas guzzlers are cheap on the used market- Hybrid cars are common and lots of 2nd cars of the household in mothballs or sold. That is what I have done with my car. The wife has a small economical car that does less milage now than it has ever done--5,000 miles a year now down to 3,500.

Commute time and a lot of bikes being used for transport. Companies catering for "Secure" bike space at work and the country is getting fitter. My son in law commutes the 10 miles to work and now collects 3 other riders en route. There are now 20 regular commuters at his work--at the start of last year it was only 3.

But the part that really matters is that car drivers now "Seem" to respect cyclists. Police are coming down hard on bike rage- bike lanes are becoming common on most main roads and cars are being hit with high parking charges.

But if you want to see Europe at its best for bikes- look at Holland. Bikes rule over there.