This is a great book for those who want to know more about the evolution of cycling in North American cities -- with a focus on what's happening now in key American communities including Portland, Davis and New York. As background, it also presents the European situation with clarity and perspective. The author, Jeff Mapes, is a political journalist and does a great job of identifying the various tensions at play, while underscoring the benefits that stand to be reaped by communities that can make cycling work better. He resists the temptation to call for simplistic solutions, preferring to allow a number of key experts to present their own (frequently conflicting) cases. The Canadian content is glancing at best, but this does little to hinder the book's relevance for cities north of the border.
