Are you in rural area or city? If you are in the City, start attending City Council meetings and stating your concerns. If you have a traffic commission, get a large group of cyclist to go in and start stating your concerns and needs. It starts with one person and some ground swell support from the cycling community. Start not only stating the negative that needs to be addressed but the positive, i.e. if they start building bike lanes/paths, etc., they will be perceived as a bike friendly area and people will begin to come to town for recreation. The town gets tax revenue, the motels get filled, the businessmen get business.

Start a non-profit bike organization for bicycle/pedestrian rights. Get grants for some money, do spots on tv for education of bikes and car drivers regarding cyclists rights. Education is the key!

The other key is the way the community sees bikes and pedestrians. If they are educated as to the laws, they usually start to realize that bikes have rights as well.

Patience is the other key!