Is cycle sport encouraging uptake of cycling?

In countries such as Holland and Denmark, where cycling is just practical transport, riding a bike is an almost universal way of life. In countries such as Britain, USA, where it is primarily a sport, we cyclists are a freakish minority, regarded as lower forms of life by some sectors of society.

Ah, but look at the history behind this.

This almost completely stems back to the oil shortages of the seventies. In those times those European governments sought to alleviate the problems with a commitment to creating and promoting a culture of cycling and sustainable transport as a credible alternative to driving. It also didn't happen overnight and took many years to get right. England and the USA took the view that driving had to be supported as an absolute priority which led to a culture where driving is the norm and cycling completely unplanned for because it's seen as completely undesirable.

Read Car Sick by Lynn Sloman for more discourse on how this country fucked up it's transport policies many years ago and failed to address the resultant legacy.

This more than anything else has discouraged more people from recreational and utility cycling than anything that sport cycling cold be clamed for.