reducing fear when cycling?

You're forgetting all the good stuff, you only remember asshat drivers,

So true.
It is a slow process. Believe it or not London drivers are so much more tolerant because of the proactive measures that TfL and some London Boroughs have been taking, and London drivers are so much more used to cyclists. I remember the days when every bus driver resented a rider in a bus lane, played the old leapfrog game with us. Today I rode to Thamesmead and back for work noting the many more positive interactions with drivers, especially professional drivers.

TS, @bothwell , persevere, focus on the positives not the occasional idiot. We're getting there, and while cycle skills training isn't a panacea, it definitely opens your eyes to, what may be counter intuitive ways of riding, and highlights small bad habits that may get you squeezed, teaches you to be hyper aware of what's around so you rarely get passed by a driver that you hadn't noticed. I know it's been a forum joke, something for nodders to 'consider'. But even if you don't learn anything new in the couple of hours spent with a cycle trainer, that's free, funded by your taxes, you're not going to be worse off.

And here is a view of cycling in London written by some residents of that chic hip cycle friendly town of Bristol:
http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/article/some-thoughts-cycling-london