Reading this sure makes me happy to live in upsate NY.

I am glad you live in New York too. We already have too many New Yorkers. Just kidding . Seriously I think some of the problems are the Florida economy and the number of people without license. There are a lot of people in low paying jobs that ride to work and I think the reason a lot of them are in those jobs is because they have problems that keep them there. Most of the cycling accidents around here are people riding at night with little or no lights and or people riding on roads that just aren't designed for bikes and cars. I pass a pretty big roofing contractors office on the way home and a lot of thier workers bike to work. It is pretty common to see them in the evening riding home carrying a 12 pack of beer on their top tube and riding with one hand holding it.
I also know a Dentist who has been hit twice commuting on a road with no shoulder and a 55 mph limit.