This must be what I read (considering the source was an Op/Ed in the Sun- I will have to weigh it more carefully):
Going flat out — Portland and Vancouver spent loads on bike lanes … for very little gain
http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/03/09...ry-little-gain
According to bikeportland.org, cycling’s most admired city has finally hit the brakes on spending, having slashed the budget for neighbourhood greenway bike lanes, a priority of that 2010 cycle strategy.
After two decades of free-wheeling finances, it seems even Portland has realized there’s only so much spending you can do for a fixed minority of commuters — and with the Oregon city in the midst of a financial rough patch, infrastructure that benefits only 6% of citizens was first to go.
What both cities found is that the initial investment in bike infrastructure does attract new riders, but the point of diminishing return is quickly reached — and according to an 2013 City of Calgary report, Calgary is already approaching 4.7%, as measured on a May weekday.
When vaunted Portland can only attract 6% of commuters to cycling after building the best bike network in North America, can Calgary really do better?