We do represent in Washington!
Each year the League of American Bicyclists hosts the national bike summit which includes a day long "storming" of Capitol Hill to lobby our congressman and Senators on issues important to cyclists. JORBA representatives have present at all of them going back 12 years (or so, I can't remember when the first one was). Many things have been accomplished including raising the amount of transportation enhancements money from a few million back in the early 90's to about 1.4 billion this year. Much of the funding came from the stimulus.
For more info on how you can be involved check out
http://www.bikeleague.org/ and the website for the newly formed New Jersey Bike Coalition at
http://www.njbike.org/ You can also be more involved in Mountain Bike Advocacy. Check out
http://www2.jorba.org/index.php?title=Main_Page and of course IMBA at
http://imba.com/
If you are tired of the same old, same old, don't become cynical, become involved!