Distances are large. The rain is heavy and sudden. The humidity is high. The heat is high in the summer and the cold is low in the winter. Obesity is common. Your pecking order in your local society or work can be determined by things like the vehicle you drive or the church you go to, not to mention the aging population who are often too infirm to ride any bicycle regardless of powertrain.
Further, drivers don't treat bicyclists as human beings even in areas where biking is common, so die hard automobilists will most likely accidentally kill dozens of people every year during the transition period.
While the suggestion is admirable, the practical implementation of it is orders of magnitude more than shelling out a few million dollars.
Distances are large. The rain is heavy and sudden. The humidity is high. The heat is high in the summer and the cold is low in the winter. Obesity is common. Your pecking order in your local society or work can be determined by things like the vehicle you drive or the church you go to, not to mention the aging population who are often too infirm to ride any bicycle regardless of powertrain.
Further, drivers don't treat bicyclists as human beings even in areas where biking is common, so die hard automobilists will most likely accidentally kill dozens of people every year during the transition period.
While the suggestion is admirable, the practical implementation of it is orders of magnitude more than shelling out a few million dollars.