I agree that adding bike lanes in a vacuum doesn’t make a lot of sense if you’re trying to support cycle commuting. Adding lanes to University would be a great way to show support, however there would be backlash from people along such a “major” thoroughfare. The street seems wide enough, but the lane would be in the door zone for part of the trip. I’ve discussed this with various people and this seems to be okay, if only because the stretch of University west of North Washington is mostly residential and doesn’t have the number of people always moving in and out of parking spots you might find in an urban area.

Another idea to create space on those streets that are too small is to make them one-way and pair them with another one-way a block over. Chestnut and Walnut are already set up like this.

I honestly don’t think lanes are enough, to get people to commute, though. It might make them feel safer and get out more (which is a great thing, no doubt about it), but although bike lanes improve access, they don’t help people make the leap to deciding that they want to ride instead of drive. Incentives from employers such as healthcare credits if you ride instead of drive (similar to what you can get if you join a gym) or even a monthly parking refund (for the parking spot your employer doesn’t have to provide for you) would be other ways to show people that this whole “bicycle commuting” thing is acceptable and normal.