Skeptical ex-designer chimes in:

On the one hand I'm glad of it, like the Kaiser ads that emphasize health and fun. And even a bike in the background people see bikes as part of the normal landscape. "Oh, there's a streetscape and someone rides up and parks their bike and goes into the store. Oh, I could do that"

So like smoking in films and TV is a "bad thing" showing people cycling and the BofA and guy wanting a bike is a good idea and I'm glad to see it.

But I also know objects, like this years hot colors or this years background music have a cycle of fashion and this one (which I've noticed for a few years on the tube - what's with all the subtle use of bikes?) may stay....or go.

If it gets one person riding or into fitness that's good. But now how to keep them there?

People get into cycling for any number of reasons including economics and fashion. But will they stay when what looked like fun on the insurance commercial is hard work, hard to learn or even dangerous.

I've told people that riding a bike is easy to do, hence that saying "it's like riding a bicycle"

Riding a bike safely and well is freaskishly insanely difficult.

You'll see lots of new riders out there both as a result of perceived fashion, health concern and price of gas. Help them out!