1) We need a lot more bike lanes and

2) We need to make bicycling to be illegal anywhere else.

Cyclists are not allowed on highways. Except State Highway 29. And State Highway 360. And Farm to Market 734. That's just off the top of my head in one town, but having been to Portland a few times now I can see it's at least as bad there (although, to be fair, it seems like Portland has a LOT more bike lanes and, once again, while I think it's incredibly STUPID to be riding in a bike lane next to a 70 mph highway, I concede the onus is on me, the driver, to stay the hell out of their lane and be alert enough to avoid anyone who accidentally veers or falls into mine. )

Again, they need to put in the infrastructure as well as the law, and, yes, it needs to be in that order (but with very little lag. )

I contend, however, that the real problem is that PEOPLE often behave stupidly; they have "bicycles not allowed on freeway" signs for the same reason they have "no fishing from bridge signs: " Because if you don't pass a law explicitly banning it AND put up signs declaring it, more idiots would do it. Note that I said, "more" because a few idiots do it anyway. They break "the Stupid Law" and usually pay the price sooner or later; the only hope is that not many people have to share that bill with them.