Article - For Bicyclists, a Widening Patchwork World

The number of cyclists has doubled in a decade in cities as disparate as Berlin and Bogota. Global bicycle production has increased for six consecutive years, according to a report by the Earth Policy Institute. Yet when it comes to using a bike for everyday transportation, the boom appears to have bypassed many countries.

While Northern Europe and Japan have figured out how to make bicycle commuting a safe, cheap alternative to driving, the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain have not.