In practical terms, there isn’t any road – narrow or wide – that can’t be made safe and attractive for cycling. The solutions aren’t always politically simple, but physical space is rarely an insurmountable problem.

It is true that some roads may be too narrow to accommodate cycling-specific infrastructure alongside other uses such as parking and multiple lanes for motor traffic. However, it may well be the case that cycling infrastructure is a more beneficial and productive use of road space.

To create space for cycling infrastructure, a road might be made one-way for motor traffic, or parking could be reduced. Alternatively, the amount of motor traffic can be reduced to a very low level, making the road itself a safe and attractive place to cycle.

Investment in bicycle infrastructure is a modern and intelligent move. Plenty of research shows the social, economic, environmental, and health benefits of urban cycling. Studies from Denmark tell us that for every kilometer cycled, society enjoys a net profit of 23 cents, whereas for every kilometer driven by car we suffer a net loss of 16 cents.

People should cycle at the side

Nobody  wants to ride in front of motor vehicles. However, poor road design often means that cycling in the middle of the road is the safest place.

For instance, there might be parked cars that need to be given a wide berth (car doors can be opened at any time), or there might be dangerously narrow ‘pinch points’ where it would not be possible for a car driver to overtake safely. Cycling out from the side of the road might be annoying to some, but it’s almost always done for sensible reasons, and is legal in most of the world.

The best way to reduce this kind of conflict is to design roads which physically separate cycling and driving.

For more myths see: https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/