I don't think London has made quite the strides in bikeability that Paris has since 2020, but when I visited Hackney last year I was astonished to see more bikes during rush hour than cars. Walking down a road to a coffee shop, I actually had to wait a few seconds to cross at the intersection between two bike highways.
Hundreds of people riding bikes to work. And as quiet as the wilderness behind my house in the rural USA. I could hear the wind in the trees, and that was it. Maybe a little drivetrain noise from a poorly maintained bike here or there.
I desperately want to live in a city that quiet. Back when I lived in NYC practically every environment was an assault on the ears.
And way less particulate pollution. Automobile drivers are actively hurting you everytime you breathe their exhaust fumes, tire wear dust, or brake pad dust. Of course the same can be said for bicycle tires or brakes on a far smaller scale, or probably even pedestrian plastic shoe soles.
