I bike to work a lot, and this number seems high to me. Maybe this is for warmer climates.

Look at you picture and ask yourself if you'd rather drive in your car to work: seatbelt and nothing special else - or in your proposed bike-outfit: a said-to-be-but-not-proven-to-be-protective helmet flattening your hair and a lot of reflective stuff on your body.

People won't like to bike as long as biking is associated with wearing a lot of bothering stuff that allegedly is necessary to protect you.

Ummm, statistics from the year 2000 are not that relevant today. Gas was still $1+ a gallon and we were not in perpetual war over oil.

I work in a urban planning office and I'm the only one that bikes to work (only 2 others take mass transit). It's sad that even the planners, advocates for commuting by alternative means of transportation, are driving to work.

I have a feeling the 2010 statistic is gonna see a big jump. I am seeing so many more bicycles on the road in the last year, even here in los angeles.

I also work in a planning office, and I estimate that over 10% of the staff ride a bike to work. The bike racks are often full. We have good shower facilities, change rooms and lockers. I also know of several people who car pool, and several who catch the bus. We have about 200 working in our office. (In Australia).

I don't mind wearing 'stuff to alegedly protect me'. It isn't that onerous. A bright jacket, and flashing lights on my bike. I'd rather be seen by cars than get knocked off my bike. If you don't want to wear it then don't, but don't complain if you get hurt.

For the distance that I need to travel to work (less than 6 miles), riding a bike is faster than driving, being caught in traffic lights, having to park the car and then walk to the office.It also keeps me fit. If more people rode to work, the population would be healthier, and perhaps the obesity epidemic wouldn't be an epidemic.

You might not complain, Mike, but in general people tend to take the easier alternative. And it is easier to use a bike/car/tricycle without having to put on (and carry around) a lot of extra.

For the protection - there is no study showing that the extra special blinky thingies protect you more than the already mandatory and sufficient lights and reflectors do.
And why should they ... if somebody does not see your >= 10 Lux (Germany) frontlight or your big backlight/reflector, why should he see you blinking along like a christmas tree?

Helmets are even worse. IMHO no proper study exists that shows that they increase safety. That is debatable [2}.
But they clearly lead to people using the bike less than before [1] because biking is perceived as dangerous or because of other reason. It proves what I was saying - why should people commute to work by bike, when they are told to put themselves into "proper clothing" before?

What bothers me most is your conclusion "but don't complain if you get hurt". Of course I would complain. I have my lights in proper order, I have reflectors at my tires, my pedals, my backlight, my frontlight ... if someone runs over me in spite of those, I'll let the police charge him and suspend his driving license. Because - and that is important - it is not my fault that he did not see me.
If you start laying the blame unconditionally on the bike-rider, even less people will use the bike.

[1] http://web.aanet.com.au/d-e/VELO/velo.html ... coincidently from Australia
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_helmet

What?! People aren't going to bike to work because you have to wear protective gear?! What about your solid steel bumpers? Your explosive air bags? Anti-lock brakes?! You're the one driving a deathtrap!

That logic is rediculous. In that case, I'm assuming the ideal ride for you is your little Red Ryder wagon since in that you don't even have to wear a seatbelt.

People don't bike to work because they are (a) fat, and (b) lazy. Some are one or the other, but most are both. 'Nuff Said.

That is a disgrace! I live in the boondocks and cannot ride my bike to many places other than the post office or the convenience store up the road, but I do encourage citizens to ride places. Put down those keys and pick up that helmet!

I have been riding to work for about two years now. I have been "grazed" by three cars. All on the sidewalk. I have been hit by the side view mirror of a car twice and had numerous foodstuffs thrown at me. The second time I was hit my shoulder was dislocated. I reported all of the accidents and never heard from the police again.

If the police would enforce many of the laws that already exist in the community then biking would be safer and more enjoyable. Also I have found in many cities an animosity towards bike riders even when we are obeying all the laws and staying out of the car lanes.