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skydancer
Late to this thread.
I disagree with any equivocation of motorists and cyclists. I realise the two groups are not completely distinct...
But with the news this week reporting that nearly 30,000 people die prematurely because of vehicular emissions every year in the UK, do you think many people are re-evaluating their car usage? Never mind all other numerous negative externalities of single occupancy car journeys.
Given that the majority of trips in the UK are under 5 miles, I think there's an intrinsic selfishness in typical car users in the UK. It's not usually a conscious thing, but anyone who even occasionally applies some introspection to their habits and how their lifestyle might negatively impact on others should be able to identify certain activities that are harmful to others and often, using a car is one of them. That's the broad look at it.
From a narrower, more anecdotal perspective, I find that the majority of car drivers act in a relatively courteous way towards me when I'm cycling or walking, but that a significant minority acts, at best with a dangerous lack of regard, and at worst with outright potentially lethal aggression.