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I know this is probably going to get downvoted into oblivion, but I genuinely think bike lanes, at least in some cities, are a massive waste of taxpayer money.I see these brand new lanes, often separated at great expense, practically empty, while traffic is choked on the reduced road space.
It feels like in manny areas, the infrastructure isn't justified by the actual usage. Resources could be channeled into improving public transport, fixing potholes, or addressing other, more pressing infrastructure needs that benefit everyone, not just a small segment of the population.Of course, encouraging cycling is a good thing, but maybe investing in secure bike storage at transit hubs or offering cycling safety courses would be a more effective way to achieve that goal than carving out dedicated lanes that frequently enough go unused.
I'm genuinely curious to hear from people who disagree. What are the long-term benefits I'm not seeing? Are there stats on increased bike usage after lane construction that I'm missing? I'm open to changing my mind, but right now it just feels like a very expensive, and often underutilized, vanity project in many places.