The good thing here is that it is a University town - and a couple of hospitals, not a whole lot more; and the other big places of employment have a lot of low-paid folks. The Urbana half is notoriously liberal and creative. (There are 3 Xtracycles in Champaign-Urbana - all of 'em in Urbana. THat's proof, right ) It's still got a good dose of the "hopelessly midwetern" culture about it, and even the major bigwigs recognize that when they're trying to compete for folks to come this way, that lifestyle is one of few things we've got over, say, Chicago. And, there are just a LOT of bicycles.
I think I would have mroe trouble in some of the smaller towns, though ("Must be a student! AARGH! Or one of those Urbana Liberals!!! )
I'm encouraged b/c one of the ladies on the list I posted the link to works for the transportation folks, and has forwarded it to the public works' folks and the planners for the three towns around here. What's that quote about being like a flea?