The traffic paradigm of the city of Zagreb is characterized by the subordination of all other forms of mobility to motorized traffic, which negatively affects the quality of life: it pollutes the air, slows down movement, consumes citizens' free time, and contributes to the development of diseases. A number of European countries are therefore developing their cities in the direction of sustainable environments where traffic is based on public transport, walking and cycling. The aim of this paper is to apply the standards of European cities in the analysis of Zagreb's bicycle system, to determine the main shortcomings and to provide possible solutions for bicycle infrastructure. The purpose of this is to provide a basis for improving the cycling infrastructure and thus the quality of life of citizens. The paper provides answers to the main research questions: 1) Does the existing cycling infrastructure meet European standards and the needs of the citizens of Zagreb; 2) Are the existing laws and regulations related to bicycle traffic properly applied when implementing the infrastructure; and 3) Are citizens and experts sufficiently involved in deciding on bicycle traffic. To determine the answers, the methods of in-depth interviews with experts, field analysis of infrastructure, analysis of available data and legal regulations, and secondary analysis of content available on the Internet as well as professional literature were used. It was established that the bicycle infrastructure in Zagreb does not meet the basic standards related to cohesion, directness, safety, comfort and attractiveness. The cycling system is fragmented and disconnected, and there is insufficient coverage by the public bicycle system and parking locations. There are also failures in the implementation of existing regulations when building infrastructure, and citizens and experts are not sufficiently involved in decision-making about bicycle traffic. Zagreb therefore needs a change in the traffic paradigm, which would be best planned based on European examples using the SUMP method with the involvement of all necessary participants. The city needs high-quality integration of bicycle traffic with public transport, which must primarily be achieved by calming traffic and implementing roads for shared traffic. The main problem of the bicycle system, disconnection and fragmentation, should be solved by repurposing roadways for bicycle infrastructure and by creating bicycle highways, for example, along the "Samoborček" route and city streams, from which smaller roads would branch off, connected to public transportation and other facilities in the city.