In many cities, the car has shaped almost everything: the width of streets, the location of shops and even the way people think about distance. Over the past few decades, however, a growing number of cities have begun to redesign their streets around bicycles.

The arguments in favour are familiar. Cycling produces no exhaust fumes, takes up far less space than driving, and builds exercise into daily routines. For short trips in crowded centres, a bicycle is often the fastest option.

Yet simply painting a line on the road rarely changes behaviour. Experience from cities that have succeeded suggests that people cycle in large numbers only when they feel safe, which usually means lanes physically separated from traffic, connected routes rather than isolated pieces, and secure places to park. Where these exist, cycling tends to attract people of all ages, not only confident commuters.

The changes are not always popular at first. Shop owners sometimes fear that removing parking will cost them customers, and drivers may resent losing road space. Some cities have responded by introducing changes as temporary trials, allowing residents to experience the new layout before a final decision is made.

There is no single model that works everywhere. Climate, hills and the distances people travel all matter. But the broader lesson is that transport habits are not fixed: they respond to the choices cities make about their streets.