I added the bold to the quote below:
Originally Posted by
hagen2456
Well, many, many people would like to be able to ride a bike peacefully and safe. Or so they say, and that should of course be taken with a grain of salt. Yet, though not all segments of the population are equally ready to choose a bike instead of a car for shorter rides, there's no doubt that the potential IS there. Look at the dwindling number of youths getting a driver's license or a car. There may well be a paradigm shift going on.
Once riding a bike really IS a (safe) pleasure, it will catch on.
In U.S. cities, in some urban and suburban community situations, I think there is potential for a wide range of the population irregardless of wealth, class or income, to be interested in riding and walking rather than driving. Where the infrastructure for walking and biking sucks...and in my own suburban neighborhood, I can easily cite examples...that's a deal killer. People...what range of types and what percent is anyone's guess...will put up with heat, cold, or rain to get a little workout walking or biking on a trip to do shopping, but for some of them, the hazards of cars whooshing by, will have them reaching for the car keys every time.