Too many people on bikes seem only to want to show that they don't care for their own or others' safety
There is a very small minority, most in London from everything I've read, who regularly weave between cars, ride at full pelt with pedestrian's crossing, and go through Red Lights. There is an equal if not greater number of motorists who also jump red lights, which includes stopping in the advance boxes for cycles.
From personal observation , outside of London RLJ's are a very rare occurence indeed, both for bikes and cars. Daily on my commute I do see people riding bikes on the pavement. They are often travelling slowly, in the evening a few of them have poor or no lights. They are courteous to pedestrians. Other than breaking the law, they are not causing a real problem to pedestrians. There is no real "those cyclists are knobs" sentiment from those driving, as we've all got used to bikes on pavement due to the rise of shared cycle / pedestian paths.
From a personal point of view. I think demonstrating a courtesous, well considered representation of how a person in a car or on a bike should behave; gives a good impression to those passing on their bikes or in their cars, and hopefully means they will be better intentioned when they next encounter another car or cyclist on the road, which leads to a safer encounters.
and it's very difficult to convince drivers that they should give a shit when faced with such anarchy. It's not good enough to say, 'cyclists don't hurt anyone therefore they don't need to play by the rules'.
It is not good enough to blame your behaviour on that of others, and all car drivers have a resposibility to give a shit, else they should not be licensed to be on the road. It should not be difficult to convince a driver a motor vehicle to behave responsibily, courteously and safely. In fact you shouldn't need convincing, it's bloody obvious you should. I don't base my behaviour on that of the man down the road who beats his wife.
You assume cyclists are one group when they are not, they are a disparate mix of people who choose to ride a bike to get around, get to work, for leisure etc. It is a fallacy to assume that the behaviour of a person in London has any connection with me because of his mode of transport. It no good ranting on about what "cyclists" must do. I am only responsible for my own behavior not of that reckless kid in London. So by all means expound what you believe gives a good account of yourself, but do not expect that to make one bit of difference about what that kid does in London. we can only lead by example.
An example of this same fallacy might to see a man rob a bank with a getaway car. Over the years I hear about many more bank robbies and they always have a get away car. I make the false assumption (fallacy) that all car drivers are bank robbers. In any subsequent argument I then say, well you should stop robbing banks then, else I can't respect you. Of course, the person I'm speaking to probably doesn't rob banks, but already I have his or her back up. So to say cyclists should do this or motorists should do this is just falling into the same fallacies. What we can ask is; what is an unsafe behaviour or attitude and what influences or directs that behavior? One we understand and agree the key underlying drivers (no pun intended) of the issues, we are in a better place to make a real difference.
Speeding
You've banged on about cyclists exceeding speed limit when they do not. You wonder why some might have told you to go procreate with yourself? You made no effort to understand for how long this exceeding the limit takes place, under what circumstances, and why did the poster consider it safe? You have a dogmatic belief that when a 30 mph limit may be imposed on motor vehicles for safety reasons; it is also not safe for a person on a bike to exceed that limit. When others point out that that is not the case, you fall into dogma, without trying to explore the reasons why they think that.
By all means have a discussion but let's not fall back on dogma. A healthy debate is good, as long as it is that, healthy.
Empathy
There's a lot to be said for cycle, drive, or ride a mile in my shoes. The more modes of transport you experience from a first person perspective the more empathy you have to those who choose to use those alternate form in their everyday. A person who cycles and drives behaves better towards both groups. A person who has a relative who horse rides (or indeed rides themselves) is better behaved around horses whether in a car or on a bike. If you sit in the cab of a HGV you better appreciate the challenges they face and are better accomodating.
How we get more people to experience different modes of transport needs to thought about. I believe this could be one of the biggest single things we could do to bring about change for the better.
