There are substantial impediments to adoption, unfortunately. I ride maybe ~50 miles a week in one of the most bike-hostile cities in America: Los Angeles. Even here, the mayor set forth to make 1700 miles of bike paths in 2011. The problem: Those bike paths eliminate parking, in most cases, or retail space in others. The Netherlands incorporated bicycles as they advanced. Thus, super-excellent bike infrastructure. Most of America incorporated after automobiles: as such, a car infrastructure is all it's ever known. And while I've discovered I can get into Hollywood quicker on two human-powered wheels than I can on two gas-powered wheels (and a good 20 minutes faster than I can by car), it's a virtually impossible task without Google whispering in your ear and telling you which surface-street-you've-never-heard-of to turn up next. It's a 14-mile trip - essentially crossing all of San Francisco on this map: Which, if I'm not mistaken, would pretty much take you from one end of Amsterdam to the other with plenty of room to spare. in order to meet someone for lunch. I'd ride to work if I could, despite the fact that it's 26 miles. The problem is this little bit of geography: Which must be crossed on roads that look like this. Don't get me wrong: I'm a big fan of anything that makes it safer, anything that makes it better. I got broadsided by an AT&T truck last month because my "bike lane" happened to cross the onramp for the Pacific Coast Highway. But I simply don't see a "dutch style" solution to the problem where I live.
True. America is maybe one of the most car-centered nations in the world. LA in particular has a terrible type of density: too dense to have enough room for highways, but too sprawling for transit / bike infrastructure to work really well. There isn't one cookie cutter solution that works everywhere, which is why I tried to keep the ideas on the conceptual level. I do think it's possible: most of LA is flat (unless you're a rich mofo) and bike paths could be a great feeder for the subway stations. But it requires policy and forward-thinking investments, something that's easier said then done.There are substantial impediments to adoption, unfortunately.
FTFY. In all seriousness, more solutions are mo betta. And hey, wonders may never cease. We now have subways that actually don't suck and even go some useful places. We are getting more bike lanes, even if they are of the "play in traffic" variety. And my commute was lightning quick yesterday for the simple reason that most people were at home watching football. No, not that kind, that kind is called handegg. The kind the rest of the world watches. I guess that's what happens when you sign Beckham.LA in particular is terrible