A congestion tax may help discourage driving into the city. But, public transit, especially Metro, has been at record ridership lately, and they're going to have a hell of a time adding more capacity even when the silver line gets finished (whenever that happens).
Here in Capitol Hill, cyclists use bike lanes. They ride everywhere else, too, but at least they use the lanes when they're on those streets -- even if they ride the wrong way.
And I agree -- I don't think that education or "awareness campaigns" will help at all. The people who are already the most ignorant aren't going to listen to anyone else. After all, it's how they became ignorant in the first place.