Cities should prioritize bike lanes over car lanes because cycling reduces congestion and emissions, but I've seen how quickly painted lines become parking spots or delivery zones without physical barriers. In Copenhagen, protected bike infrastructure pushed cycling to 62% of commutes, yet in my medium-sized US city, we still tear down bikeways for wider turn lanes that shave seconds off car trips. Cars kill over 40,000 Americans yearly, and the burden falls hardest on pedestrians and cyclists, so investing in separated lanes isn't just convenience—it's life-saving. But I admit rural areas need pragmatic roads first, so maybe the real debate is about density, not blanket bans.