Yes, definitely a big problem in the UK too. Although I think support for cycling is perhaps more cross-party than in the US, at least in the political elite. Both the Conservative PM and Mayor of London are nominally pro-bike, also The Times (centre-right paper for those from outside the UK) ran a major campaign on cycle safety, after one of their journalists was killed:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49196

Although certainly their freedom to do something serious about the issue is restricted by the anti-metropolitan, anti-liberal vroom vroom demographic.

> If cycling is to ever become safe, cities need to start embracing the bike like they do in the Netherlands, but it's no easy task.

On that topic, this mini-documentary is worthwhile looking at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o