If we all cycled like the Dutch, CO2 emissions would drop by 690 million tonnes
If we all cycled like the Dutch, CO2 emissions would drop by 690 million tonnes
If everybody cycled like the Dutch, we could offset the UK or Australia’s entire carbon footprint.
This would be a very efficient thing for governments to throw money at. Bike infrastructure is comparatively very cheap next to road projects that benefit cars.
It also has a wide variety of downstream savings, as well. Not only is bike infrastructure way cheaper to build than car infrastructure, but bikes are also way cheaper to get and maintain than cars are, which saves people money, and the increased general physical activity levels and reduction in time spent inside cars also improve public health, which takes a lot of pressure off the healthcare industry. Not to mention the public costs associated with the damage of climate change, including but not limited to infrastructure damage due to extreme weather and adverse health effects due to pollution. And, of course, the Strong Towns argument that walkable/bike-friendly (and of course transit-oriented) places are more economically prosperous, productive, and resilient than car-dependent ones.
And that's just what I could think of off the top of my head.
I was even thinking that the government could pay people not to drive. Maybe a tax incentive or something for people that don't own cars.