Originally Posted by
alhedges
...I don't see how the fact that they are "there" and we are "here" has any particular relevance to anything. If we want to increase the number of cyclists, we should look at what places that have successfully increased the number of cyclists have done.
I agree. We have a choice to promote travel by bicycle and considering the many benefits of travel by bicycle we can see what's worked, what hasn't and what we should do.
from,
http://www.i-sustain.com/learningCen...%20Article.htm
Copenhagen is a beautiful northern European city, with 1.8 million people in the greater metropolitan area. With continuous bike paths, overflowing bike racks and grandmas whizzing by on their 3-speeds, it would be natural for visitors to assume that it has always been a bicycling city.
However, the truth is that bicycling peaked in the 1950s and reached an all time low by the 1970s. It has only been through the concerted and sustained efforts of politicians, planners and traffic engineers that Copenhagen has become a city of bicycles.
Cycling is an integral part of mainstream planning, and bike paths and other bike-friendly facilities are a part of the planning of every new or rebuilt road. Copenhagen's road infrastructure network has not increased since the 1970s and miles driven per year have decreased by 10 percent over the same period of time.