In 2004, during the preparation of the Athens? Olympic games, the government had promised to create a cycle route from the center of Athens to the seaside of the region "Faliro". The plan did not come into effect.
The most important reason for the delay of the plan was the fear of a significant decrease of the number of parking places for cars.
The cars are still the most usual means of transportation in Athens, leading to excess of polluting gases, traffic-jams, and the decrease of the space for pedestrians, by parking on the pavements, and many hours lost on transportation along with the irritation which it provokes to both pedestrians and drivers.

For four years now, there has been a significant increase in the number of bicycles in Athens. In 2012 it is estimated that 320.000 bicycles and only 58.000 cars were bought. A factor of this is the economic crisis and the increase in the price of gasoline, which reached a maximum of 1,70? per litter (1,90 USD), but also the desire of people for a better physical condition, health, and an increase of ecological conscience.

To this new social environment, three months ago, the Major of Athens and the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change announced the construction of a metropolitan cycle route in Athens, of length 27km, which will start from north Athens and will lead to the seaside of ?Faliro?. This cycle route will be delivered into 2015.

The new cycle route will interconnect some of the the small cycle routes that have been gradually created and work in some areas of the town to serve the local needs.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=zY3nGt6U0zpU.kg-6vYOKcX0s
These local cycle routes usually lead to the central market and to public transport centers. They also promote entertainment and an ecological way of living, apart of being useful.

After the final completion of the Master Plan for Athens (still a long term goal) with the interconnection of local cycle routes, the Metropolitan network of cycle routes in Athens will be consist of 36 routes and will have a total length of 226 km.

The examples of European cities such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Ferrara in Italy and Trikala in Greece, have proven that the diminution of the use of cars is feasible. They have also proven that the wide use of bicycles neither harms the financial development nor limits the access to the Malls. Oppositely, the intense use of cars is not compatible with the smooth transport of the majority of the citizens.

In my opinion cycling in the city promotes a different model of life, less egocentric and more environmentally friendly and society care.