I've commuted by bike in Copenhagen for five years, and I've seen how a city can actually thrive with car-free streets. Yet every time a new bike lane is proposed in the U.S., the same argument comes up: 'bike lanes are a waste of money because most people still prefer cars.' That claim ignores real data. Copenhagen invested heavily in cycling infrastructure, and now 62% of residents bike to work or school daily. So why do American cities keep prioritizing cars over proven alternatives like bike lanes and public transit? Maybe the question isn't whether bike lanes are worth it, but who they're really meant to serve.