+2

1. I do think there is backlash
2. but I don't think you have to depend on the idea of a "general public good" (or even public health) to defend bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure development. I was at a big public meeting on local transportation planning last night and there is convincing evidence that Bike/Ped projects are a key element in preventing rampant and accelerating suburban sprawl, which is ridiculously inefficient and costly, and also turns central city neighborhoods into impoverished areas that do not produce any property tax dollars.