Bicycles are the most ecological form of transport. In the last few years the number of bikes on the streets of St. Petersburg has increased dramatically. But the necessary infrastructure is completely absent.
The St. Petersburg city government still considers that our northern climate does not allow the massive use of bicycles. But real world experience proves otherwise. The most well developed bicycle infrastructure can be found in northern countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Canada.
One of the most "bicycle friendly" cities in the world is Helsinki, where the weather is no less severe than in St. Petersburg. Helsinki has already built more than 600 kilometers of designated bicycle routes, and we still have none.
Bicycles are traditionally considered summer transport. But modern mountain bikes are even more well suited for riding through snow and ice than the typical car. And it is the mountain bike which accounts for the recent boom in bicycle use in St. Petersburg.
In order for people to feel safe while cycling, it is necessary to strictly control automobile transport. An especially important factor is control of parked cars, which in St. Petersburg is now absolutely chaotic and unregulated.
