Getting started

More cyclists and more cycling infrastructure is a “chicken and egg” situation: some would argue that you need a certain number of cyclists to justify investing in more cycling infrastructure. On the other hand, you will have a difficult time attracting more cyclists if you don't have at least a basic level of infrastructure. In other words, there is nothing to be gained by waiting for a certain number of cyclists before starting to plan attractive, high-quality cycle parking facilities.

And even if you're just getting started, it pays to do a bit of research and planning to make sure that the resources you put into cycling facilities are well invested and send a clear message that you're serious about making your city attractive for cycling.

But as there is often tension among the different uses of public space, you should be aware that it may be a challenge to find a balance among the needs for space for cars, bikes, and people on foot. Based on your city's transportation priorities, you may need to take a few risks to find out what works best to achieve the modal share you would like to see for each of the transport modes.