Dumb question... if the perception of the cyclists is that bike lanes make them feel safer, then aren't more cyclists liable to take to the road in these BL... and if there are more cyclists on the road, doesn't that increase our visibility to motorists, who then become more aware of cyclists and tend look out for them.

It has been stated time and time again that more cyclists on the road increases the over all safety for all cyclists, because motorists become more aware of cyclists.

So if BL are nothing more than a physicological ploy to make cyclist feel safer and increase ridership, then aren't BL then a good thing?

And in reality aren't all the stripes on the road, especially the one in the middle, just there to make us feel safer... the reality being that anybody can cross any line at any time?