I don't know why this attitude persists but I agree that a significant percentage of drivers seem to not only be oblivious to bicycles but actually have it out for them in some way. Squeeze outs, hugging the curb, sudden turns, honking for no reason... my favourite is the driver of the large diesel pickup with tinted windows who gets by you and then hammers down on the gas, spinning the tires, spraying rocks and dark clouds of soot in your face. This is even more effective when they are stopped at a light and you can't get by. I have learned to give this driver a wide berth when possible.

As for the larger percentage of drivers being not too bad, mmmm, not so sure about that. Depends on the road perhaps and maybe time of day. Some roads are wide enough that bicycles and cars conflict very little and drivers are pretty good about passing, stopping as they enter from a driveway or stop sign etc because they know they can get by you fairly easily. On narrower roads though I find that drivers quickly get impatient and make much riskier moves to get around you, or roll through stop signs or out of driveways more quickly so that they can get ahead of you. It's just ingrained in their habits, or maybe it is just a mindset that people get into when they get behind the wheel, especially if they themselves don't cycle and have not way to relate to you and your mindset on the bicycle. We are (generally) in less of a hurry on a bike and are willing to expend significantly more energy, patience, and concentration to get where we are going. Drivers are (generally), either by necessity or by choice, in much more of a hurry or are much less willing to expend energy and concentration to get where they are going. That's why they are in a car and not on a bike, or on transit, or walking etc. When you get in the way of someone who is in a hurry or is not mentally prepared to be courteous and patient and is perhaps distracted by several things like radios, telephones, children, and other drivers I don't find it surprising that there are so many conflicts and close calls.

Although I am a big advocate for bike lanes, legal reform to give more rights to bicycles, and stiffer penalties for bad drivers and cyclists alike I think the main problem is courtesy and this will not change without extensive education about the problem. We need to teach our kids from an early age how to bike safe, be courteous, and have fun. We need to teach our young/new drivers how to include cyclists on the road and the legals around that. We also need to educate the current driving population through ads and tv spots the same way many other issues are brought forward such as traffic safety (red lights, seat belts, speeding etc.), bullying, health concerns, money matters. The city of Calgary had a couple spots last summer and fall on Shaw (and possibly Global) featuring cycling issues and I hope that continues this summer. Flyers might help too although I hate the intensive use of paper to make this happen. Anyone else agree or have any ideas?

Like many of you I ride through the worst of it every year, all year, and sometimes I wish drivers would give us a little respect for our effort.