In my opinion it depends on the city.
I have been to Amsterdam many times, and bicycles outnumber cars.
The same is true in MANY cities outside of the USSA.
In my small town here in the Philippines, cars are so few in number that there is no need for bicycle lanes. The whole street is our lane.
I do not think any US city would qualify for dedicated bike lanes.
One interesting note:
When I lived in Bratislava, every weekend I would take a lengthy bike ride along the Danube.
They have a four lane divided highway just for bicycles, skate boards, and roller blades. No motorized vehicles allowed at any time.
It is quite long, going from the city center, to the
Austrian boarder.
Two lanes were built on top of the dam, and on the downside of the damn is an older road that was closed off to ANY motorized traffic.
It is very popular on weekends, with pubs and eaterys at regular intervals. Oh, and there is a neat nude bathing lake at the end :)
As for the spandex bikers, I agree....such fruitcakes.
That was a neat post, AW.