bikes on tehran’s streets

Tehran’s municipality has established a bicycle venue “in one district of the city as part of an experimental program to help ease traffic congestion, improve air quality and cater to the desires of increasingly health- and fitness-oriented Iranians.” I have always admired similar programs in European cities (e.g., Paris, Barcelona, etc.), but never thought Tehran’s landscape and culture was bike friendly. I was wrong:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/02/iran-on-city-streets-another-green-movement-begins-to-roll-out.html