Cycling

Do cycle lanes have a disproportionate amount of space.

On the Embankment in London the new cycle lanes are carrying more people in total than the parallel road, in about a quarter of the space.

Cycle lanes are very efficient.

There may be places where what you say is true, and the cycle lanes are relatively under used. But there could be factors like the lane not being part of a good network and so not fulfilling its potential ... yet. But just looking at a cycle lane and seeing it empty is not enough. You do need to do accurate traffic counts as impressions are quite deceptive.

If roads had the same carrying capacity as cycle lanes, such that city traffic was free flowing, you would have to demolish quite a lot of the typical British city to make room for them. This has been done: see various cities in the US in particular: https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/8605917/highways-interstate-cities-history
(Unfortunately they tended to underestimate how many people would then switch to driving,

so there are still jams.)

For a cycle jam see https://twitter.com/CommuterCurd/status/1146118374889598977?s=20

At the end of the day, you have to think which mode of transport would we prefer more of -- the polluting one that takes a lot of space, or the quiet, unpolluting one that keeps people fit? Then build dedicated infrastructure to encourage it.

106

Cycle paths will only work if they are properly built,

maintained and segregated.

All too often they simply throw the cyclist back into the traffic at the most vulnerable points, right turns and roundabouts. Underpasses and traffic lights are expensive but necessary.

All too often cycle lanes are where the rubbish from the road ends up, broken glass litter and, of course, drains.

Many cycle lanes seem to be regarded as extra parking spaces for quick, or not so quick, stops hence the need for proper segregation.

Personally I rather enjoy mixing with traffic and find that if everybody obeys the rules, and makes eye contact, cycling is pretty safe, although I was recently 'doored' while pushing my bike along the Pavement 

In the major Danish cities bicycling is by far the fastest way to get around for the citizens.

Short distance commuting by bicycle is merely the norm, and short distance means up to 10-15 daily kilometers each way.

In the recent decade longer distance commuting has increased too, as a fitness trend. With the e-bike revolution long distance commuting is expected to substantially rise.

In a busy city life the bicycle gives an opportunity to get some daily exercise as a part of your daily routines.

It also makes it easy and fast to bring and pick-up your Children at nurseries and shop on your way home, or take shorter shopping trips in the city.

The parking problem is largely eliminated and thus it is easy to seek out specialized shops in the city that otherwise would be hard to reach by car or time consuming by bus or train.

It is not just about bicycle lanes and separate bicycle roads.

The rest of the infrastructure must follow, and the society support the culture.

These days most employers offer decent bathing facilities where somehow sweaty bicyclists can have a shower and change to whatever suitable clothing required on the job.

You can bring your bicycle on the local trains in specially designed train wagons, enabling you to bicycle to your local train station, get off at your destination station, and bicycle to your final destination.

New housing is constructed with safe bicycle parking facilities, and similar facilities built in older housing. Outside the the rush hours you can even bring your bicycle on the small Copenhagen Metro line.

It is a cultural issue and it is spreading.

These days you are considered a pussy if you are just reasonably fit and take the car to work in the city if you don't need it to travel around during the working hours.

Many companies even buy small electrical cars for such purposes for their employees.

It definitely wasn't the case 30 years ago when there was prestige in driving in a nice car to work, and being high enough in the ranks to have a reserved private parking space at work.

These days Danish city planners are considering building large numbers of small bridges over heavily trafficked road crossings to keep the bicycle flow going, as the crowded bicycle lanes and frequent stops at traffic lights stem up the flow and diminish the capacity.

It is only a matter of time before some modular design

bring down the costs of such bridges.