By Mike McKimm BBC Northern Ireland environment correspondent

They were supposed to be the key to getting us out of our cars and onto two wheels - but the lanes haven't exactly been overcrowded with cyclists.

It is the best way to beat the traffic. Many European motorists have now given up their cars and taken to the bicycle - even to take their children to school or just to do the shopping.

Steven Patterson: "Routes have gone up by 11% in the first year"

But it simply hasn't happened in Northern Ireland. More than �15m has been spent by councils and government on cycles lanes - but it seems many have voted with their car keys and stayed away.

Organisations like Sustrans, who lobbied for cycle lanes, say it has worked.

Steven Patterson of Sustrans said: "The routes have gone up by 11% in the first year, which isn't bad.

"Certainly we want to see more cyclists. There is no point in painting white lines that cars can then park in.

"Cycle routes need to be there for the entire length of the journey."

Certainly some people are making an effort - but there is a long way to go

At the Governor's Bridge in Belfast the evening peak traffic averaged just 10 cyclists over 30 minutes along the specially built bypass - more people actually ran along it than cycled. Despite the empty cycle track some chose to cycle along the road - yet many defended this mode of transport.

One Belfast cyclist said: "I hate sitting in traffic, so for me it is the best option."

Another frequent cycle path user said it was early days for the lanes, adding: "In the longer term hopefully they will join up and be all over the city."

'Sufficiently encouraging'

If more of us don't get on our bikes - are we going to lose the lanes?

Denis O'Hagan of the Department of Regional Development's transportation unit said there was still quite a lot to do.

"Much needs to be done before we can present a comprehensive network and all of the facilities that we think are sufficiently encouraging.

"We will continue to invest over the next couple of years and certainly then we will review the situation."

Certainly some people are making an effort - but there is a long way to go.