Why do communities waste money on putting in bike lanes?

Avalon - Why do communities waste money on putting in bike lanes? It seems bike riders enjoy riding two or more abreast and certainly not in the bike lanes. First Avenue in Avalon has been made so narrow to accommodate these bike lanes that many cars and vans can't fit in the confines of the allotted area for parked cars, and the whole road is a disaster waiting to happen. First Avenue needs to be a one-way street south and Avalon Avenue needs to be a one-way street north for safety sake.