You keep mentioning that many car drivers are inattentive and do stupid stuff and don't obey the laws. Yes, that is true. So what? That is not what this thread is about. You asked why drivers have problems with bicyclists. That is what we are all talking about.
If you are defending the bad behavior of many bikers by saying that many drivers are worse, you are certainly not elevating the cause of bicyclists.
Whether drivers are good or bad doesn't change the fact that motor vehicles and bicycles are not a good mix.
Studies of highway traffic have shown that when vehicles are traveling at close to the same speed, accident numbers are reduced. The same studies show that when vehicle speeds vary by more than 20 mph on the same road, regardless of vehicle type, accident rates go up. That certainly includes bicycles using the same road.
You mentioned that being delayed momentarily by a bicycle is no different than being delayed by a mail truck, etc. I beg to differ. Mail trucks, garbage trucks, and school buses are providing an essential service to all in the community. Bicyclists using the road for fun and fitness are not in the same category.
The person that said that drivers are not in any physical danger from bicyclists only gets half a point for their argument. Ask any driver that has caused a death if it has had a major effect on their life. Twenty years ago my niece killed a pedestrian with her car. It haunts her to this day, despite the fact that she wasn't found at fault and the pedestrian was on drugs and stepped out right into her path, possibly on purpose.
Common sense on the part of drivers and bicyclists would eliminate most problems. In that statement I include most bicycles staying out of most traffic lanes most of the time. In my mind that is common sense. Unfortunately common sense is hard to legislate, and we don't want more laws and restrictions.
I am not at all defending bad behavior in bicyclists. I abhor it. I don't consider slow rolling stops, not signaling turns and speeding on a bicycle, when they don't affect other road users to be bad behavior. Certainly no worse than it is driving a car. I ride my bike the way I drive my car. I am courteous to other road users and I bend the law a little when in my learned opinion I can safely and courteously do so. Don't we all?
I didn't ask why motorists have a problem with bicycles. I know why and I offered myself up as the target of your rage. I didn't say I wouldn't shine a little perspective on the subject while you tee off on me.
Why is the reason a vehicle is on the road important? Should delivery vehicles have priority over a family driving to Disney World since the delivery vehicle is providing an essential service and the family going to Disney World is on the road purely for recreational reasons. When I am towing my boat, should I get out of the way of people driving to work?
Not only are drivers not in danger from bicyclists, they have a hell of a lot of control over whether they run over one or not. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a not at fault fatality with a bicyclist, I can't imagine it would be any more traumatic than being involved in a not at fault fatality with a motorist.
You are right in that there is an elevated risk associated with speed disparity. Especially given a bicyclists vulnerability. I do my best to mitigate that risk by riding lightly traveled roads, using strategies to make myself more visible and staying out of the way as much as practicable.
I am a safety specialist by profession. There is no such thing as the absence of risk. We all have a threshold for what we consider acceptable risk. Some people are afraid to fly.
I have poured over volumes of data on bicycle accidents and fatalities. Bicycle fatality rates are on the decrease and have been for years. When I look at the leading causes of bicycle fatalities, I see risks I can eliminate. There are just over 700 bicycle deaths per year. If I don't ride on the wrong side of the road, don't ride under the influence and don't ride at night without lights, That number is cut in about half.
Then if I don't ride in door zones, use extreme caution and slow down at intersections and road entrances, I further reduce the chances I'll be killed. Further yet if I am alert for right hooks and stay out of door zones.
That leaves sideswipes and rear end strikes as the chief remaining type of fatality. The best strategies for eliminating this risk are unfortunately the very strategies that piss motorists off. Riding off of the fog line increases visibility and discourages squeeze passes. Riding in groups increases visibility and discourages bullying behavior.
I rarely ride in groups. Most often alone or with one other person. I am keenly aware of traffic behind me. I wear bright colors. When a vehicle is well off behind me I often tend toward the middle of the lane and weave a little to increase my conspicuity. Then I look over my shoulder to let the motorist know I am aware they are there. Then I move as far to the right as practicable. At that point I am at their mercy. I monitor them closely and am prepared to bail if I have to and have time. That technique has served me well. I have stripped away all the manageable risks and am left at what I consider an acceptable risk.
Even with all of the risks associated with bicycling, studies have shown it adds to longevity.
There are almost as many accidental gun discharge death in the US each year as there are bicycle deaths. That doesn't dissuade any of us. We feel confident that we can manage the successfully manage the risks.
