Out cycling this weekend with a cub-scout troop and their parents -- 16 adults and children total riding down the San Gabriel River trail between Long Beach and Seal Beach. I'm one of two regular cyclists on the ride, coaching our guys to ride single file and steady on the right and not to swerve into the overtaking or oncoming bicycle traffic.

I made a point to shut up and try to see the experience through the eyes of the adults who ride very infrequently (only when forced by their kids), to understand why they don't ride more. My findings were probably of no surprise to people here:
1. Few are willing to ride on streets, bike lanes or not. They limit themselves to paths with no motorist traffic.
2. More experienced cyclists that speed closely through clusters of slower cyclists and children are perceived as being dangerous, particularly on the River trail, where going off the path can put you into sharp boulders or down a 45 degree wall. Most have observed collisions in the past.
3. Some experienced cyclists are perceived as being haughty, especially when expressing annoyance towards children; although, some of this could be self-consciousness in adults about the obvious differences in weight and fitness, or the sense that the slower, less experienced cyclists are not welcome on the bike path.

From the point of view of advocacy and increasing ridership, it seems that making less experienced rdiers feel safe and welcome may be a good first step.