Because as population increases so will the car congestion. The city can’t physically move skyscrapers further apart, so they’ll sacrifice bike lanes to support cars. If they instead invest in public transit reducing the need for cars in the first place, then there will be plenty of space for bikes
Bike lanes have no future in cities that also do not adopt a public transit first approach to city planning and development.
What does that really mean though?
Pretty sure any city would tell you that they’re doing their best to improve public transport.
The only question is whether their efforts would meet your subjective definition of “public transport first”.
Why?
Because as population increases so will the car congestion. The city can’t physically move skyscrapers further apart, so they’ll sacrifice bike lanes to support cars. If they instead invest in public transit reducing the need for cars in the first place, then there will be plenty of space for bikes