Speaking of commitment: Mexico City

Associated Press. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard (center) led a group of cyclists to work in April in the capital. His government's goal is to inspire the city's residents to cut gas consumption and use bicycles or public transit.

From "Mexico City's hopes riding on two wheels: Bicycle use urged to lower congestion," in the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard delivered his shocking order to top officials from beneath a leafy tree in one of the few remaining parks in Mexico City. On the first Monday of every month, Ebrard announced, he and his handpicked team would travel to work on bicycles.

Now if we could do that here, and it extend it to more people at more levels in more government agencies.

Plus.... from "Cycle-Ride Sundays Take Off in Mexico City," on the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) website:

On Sunday May 13th the Mexico City government, headed by Chief of Government Marcelo Ebrard, began the Ciclo-Paseos, or “Cycle-Rides” program in designated streets of the country’s capital. The program encourages city inhabitants to walk, skate, or use bicycles to enjoy the city and promote non-polluting forms of transportation. The streets chosen consist of a circuit of 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) along the well known Reforma Avenue and others close to the historic city center so that the public can enjoy some of the cultural sites and activities along the ride. Motor vehicles are not allowed on those streets between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Sundays. Many cities in the world have similar programs. Perhaps the best known is Bogotá, Colombia, with its more than 120 kilometers (74.6 miles) of streets that undergo this transformation every Sunday.

To encourage bicycling and forms of mobility other than the car, I think we need to do this kind of Ciclo-Paseo event annually, but throughout the year, held in different neighborhoods. The refamiliarity with bicycling as a legitimate travel mode has to be reconstructed at the ground level.