Back in 1970 a handful of us were the original bike activists in Portland.  The ride of choice was a Peugeot or a Gitane.  Schwinn Varsities were the subject of scorn.  There were no bike lanes and nobody wore helmets unless they were racing on the Alpenrose velodrome.  In attempting to assert our right to the road we were routinely ran off the road or subjected to thrown cans or bottles.  Things have certainly changed.