I dont blame the motorists for hating us

While I agree that there are idiot cyclists out there that give us all a bad name, there are just as many idiot drivers out there that give us a bad name. 

I saw your post and I also saw there were a lot of folks who read it but didn't respond.  Guilty conscience maybe.

I was looking up whether coasting on the right shoulder to make a right-turn/get in-front at a light was legal in my current state and I found all kinds of argument over that subject, but one guy made the best point: I do whatever makes me most conspicuous in the most safe way. 

Most of what you called-out is a clear case of being unsafe and stupid.  Whenever I ride with a group that pulls stuff like that, that ends-up being my last ride with that group.  I've been riding with a group that follows the rules to a "t".

I am guilty of coasting along the right side to a light or in-between cars to the front.  That may aggravate drivers who have to deal with you, but a) it doesn't cause wrecks because their cars are stopped at that point and b) it doesn't put you in danger any more than sitting behind a row of cars making a right turn who then have to deal with you all the way to the light and around the turn.  I think "Lane Splitting" is legal in CA, and has been on the ballot in TX a few times, but not passed. 

I think both sides should give a little.  Cyclists need to stop when the signs, lights say stop.  Motorists need to exercise their ankle muscles a little to move their foot from the gas to the brake, then move it back to the gas 3 seconds later when they get by us.  I don't know why that's so hard for motorists to comprehend. 

Yup.

I try to act like a car as much as possible, the more predictable the better. I will lane filter when there is a very long line and a decent shoulder past the intersection. If I filter I can get out ahead and hit the shoulder to get out of the way. If I don't I can't accelerate as fast as the cars behind and in front of me can so I end up holding people up and causing them to miss the light.

I do enjoy taking advantage of Idaho law that states I don't have to stop at a stop sign, just slow down and yield to other traffic. Pretty nice deal out in the country where I ride. 

When I see someone blatantly causing issues on their bike it makes me want to pull over, stop them and give them a lecture. One bad cyclist can turn a driver against us and get 10 other cyclist's buzzed or otherwise put in danger.

I agree that both sides need to make compromises, but in my area there are several cyclists that aggravate the situation with their behavior.  I use to ride with some groups but have stopped do to their behavior on the road. 

Some examples: an early sunday morning group ride of about 20 of us on a 4 lane residential street with a median.  The group is riding 4 to 5 across taking up 1 complete lane and spilling into the next causing traffic to stack up behind us.  Myself and others have to repeatly tell them to move over to allow cars to get past.  They do, but 5 minutes later they are back at it until a car tries to pass and comes very close to one of them which results in flipping off the driver.  Both were in the wrong, but we created the situation.

A solo ride early on a saturday morning on a 2 lane curvey road with a bike lane.  I am headed west. I end up being forced off the road by a car trying to pass a large pack (20-30) riders heading east who are riding 4 - 5 across, heading into the rising sun.  I don't think the driver saw me until the last minute and tried to get back over, cutting off some of the riders.  Luckily no one was injuried.  Again, both in the wrong, but the cyclists created an unsafe situation. 

 Beware of "the Fred" !!! I've seen this is many different hobbies/sports. Just because a person can afford the best gear doesn't automatically make them competent in that endeavor.

I am an advocate for cyclist licensing.  

I pretty much agree with you.

I'll never forget leaving a tri this past summer.  I was at a 3 way stop sign at a T intersection.  I was turning right.  I stopped, saw no traffic then started to roll.  Next thing I know from my left comes 2 cyclists moving at a fast clip blowing the stop sign.  Slam on the brakes and watch one give me the finger as he rides by.  Keep in mind that this right across the road from the race venue and these were participants leaving after the race.

I wanted to chase that POS down a scream at him.  Instead, I just drove by reminding myself they are the reason I need to be so diligent looking out for angry motorists.

For what end?

Yeah.....motorists have licenses.....ever see any acting stupid?  The only thing a license means is that they know better, it certainly doesn't stop the behavior.

I'm an advocate for bike lanes....let us eat our own.

Dear Jeebus, welcome to my world!!  I'm known at work as the guy who hates 4 wheeled vehicles.

I put over 500 miles per week on my motorcycle plus time on my bicycle.  I have driven a 4 wheeled vehicle to work since February... I had just gotten back from deployment, before which the motorcycle's back tire had blown out and I hadn't had a chance to replace it.  There's 3 times I won't ride my motorcycle to work:  Snow covered roads, ice covered roads, broken motorcycle.  My motorcycle is well maintained and very reliable, and I live in NC where snow and ice happen at a very low frequency.

I get this effect ANY TIME I'm on two wheels!  It IS a two way street, though, and I think the motorists are worse than we are.  I have to deal with hosed motorists FAR MORE than hosed cyclists.  On the flipside of that, though, there's a reason I don't group ride.

Well. those cyclists will learn the hard way.. 

I'm all about protecting myself.

I always assume motorists do not see me and I avoid busy streets. 

Like cleaning the shoulder/bike lane (removing roadkill, tire treads, lost mattresses, etc),  Striping bike lanes, lots o' stuff.  Using the road (which was built for cars), may as well chip in to keep them up.  Lots of these bikes cost more than my car, and I have to pay for tags every year on it.

Then let's license pedestrians for cleaning up side walks, maintaining crossing lights, etc.

You do realize that a significant majority of individuals that ride bikes also drive a car that already pay taxes to do what you wrote, right?  And what does the cost of the bike have to do with it?  Nothing.

i assumed he meant parallel to driver's licensing, not car licensing, where you must take an exam and demonstrate ability to ride within the rules of the road....

To what end?

i dunno, it wasn't my idea.  in theory have a "standard" of riders out there, but we see how well that works with drivers (at least in PA there were questions about interacting with cyclists on my driver's exam) but i certainly wouldn't propose it as a revenue stream, that would never work.

I know it isn't yours.  I'm waiting for those folks to provide explainations.

nm. It helps to read.