This fantastic essay on Gizmodo has been making the rounds. Well worth the read.
"...the best tool for overcoming all this fear and anger and bias is simply to get more people on bikes, and show them not only the joys and concerns of urban riding, but also its humanity and diversity. The main reason bike advocates get so excited about car-free riding events like Los Angeles' CicLAvia or Portland's Sunday Parkways is that they're powerful bias-breaking tools, and do wonders to dispel the stereotypes that still permeate the discussion about cycling: cyclists are entitled hipsters, spandex-clad elitists, wild-eyed eco-warriors, scofflaw bums. These are harder to maintain when you're surrounded by biking families of six, and retirees carrying dogs in their front baskets."