[zwieback]

I agree, Portland is making a real effort as are other areas in the Willamette Valley. I actually think the Europe=paradise US=hell storyline is far from any reality I observe. When I go back to Stuttgart Germany, where I grew up I see a lot of bike lanes but I feel just as unsafe on those as on regular bike lanes here in the US. Everything in Germany is so damn narrow that close calls are not a daily but hourly occurrence.

The big difference: outside of urban centers Europe has a lot of paved paths between towns, that's something that spotty in even bike-friendly Oregon.