...and dramatically increased population densities, punitive tax rates on automobile purchase and operation, expensive 100% imported fuel, elimination of 99% of free automobile parking, cities designed to pre-automobile dimensions...
...that pretty much sums up Athens!
In the past years with the false boom in economy the car had become a status symbol, but now, more and more people have turned to cycling
(also because of the dramatic increase in fuel and maintenance costs). Unfortunately the state has done nothing to date in bicycle infrastructure, and now with the new bailout package, the funds for local municipalities have been eradicated putting a strain on keeping the existing infrastructure
(again, nothing to do with cycling) barely operating.
Putting it in layman's terms... no development of any sort of cycling infrastructure will take place for the duration of this economic crisis; a decade or more!