I'm not so sure it was never like that here, but something happened to stop it, that is for sure. I don't know maybe it was the invention of the automobile.

Bicyclists had a large part in getting our road paved originally. We had the mentality then, just not now. I mean look at us, even bicyclists argue about what would be best for us, there is no solidarity. The motorists refuse to try a different lifestyle or embrace anything that takes away their precious "freedom" that the car gives them. Meanwhile cyclists fight over which bike lane color is most appropriate, what you should wear while riding, and even what bike you will do that riding with. It is more or less a hopeless situation, and i am quite fed up with it. One guy came in to poke fun at us and show what biking is like in his area and it turns into the ***** that we now have in this thread.

"The Good Roads Movement was founded in May 1880, when bicycle enthusiasts, riding clubs and manufacturers met in Newport, Rhode Island to form the League of American Wheelmen to support the burgeoning use of bicycles and to protect their interests from legislative discrimination. The League quickly went national and in 1891 began publishing Good Roads Magazine. In three years circulation reached a million. Early movement advocates enlisted the help of journalists, farmers, politicians and engineers in the project of improving the nation's roadways, but the movement took off when it was adopted by bicyclists.

Groups across the country held road conventions and public demonstrations, published material on the benefits of good roads and endeavoured to influence legislators on local, state and national levels. Good road advocates involved themselves in local politics. Support for candidates often became crucial factors in elections. Not only advocating road improvements for bicyclists, the League pressed the idea to farmers and rural communities, publishing literature such as the famous pamphlet, "The Gospel of Good Roads."