Judging from the local response every time some city or the county wants to add a bike bridge across a major thoroughfare, many people think all bicyclists are criminals! Recently, at public hearings, you hear locals bemoaning the fact that the bike bridges will bring the "wrong elements" into their neighborhoods, etc. My normal response to them is, "when was the last time you saw somebody riding off with your TV on his handlebars? The guys you gotta watch out for are in cars, you idiot, because they can carry the swag away quickly. If you want to prevent the 'wrong elements' from coming into your neighborhoods, put up barriers to block off access by cars and make everyone ride a bike."
Puff, puff. End of sidetrack.