I understand the frustration. Cyclist behaviour, including mine, needs to change and 'grow up' from today's wide-eyed, brazen and crude cycling to tomorrow's mature, Dutch-like and protocol-ingrained cycling.
Let's be honest, some cyclists, me included, tend to get carried away with a self-congratulating, sanctimonious attitude that stems from cycling being green and healthy and efficient and so on.
Those are valid points but should be kept in check lest the ego over-inflates and cause detachment from cold reality or distortion of it... such as turning a blind eye to the limitations and shortcomings of bicycles, or making cars (all, everywhere, howsoever) seem like diabolical death machines.
Instead of celebrating cycling positively in a neutral and non-pushy attitude, we instead adopt a smug and better-than-thou attitude, plus attack the car.
It's like the bitter Canadian who, instead of loving Canada, hates the US. He loves Canada not for what it is, but for what it isn't.
Why?
Because the first is too slow, boring and labour-intensive... and very difficult psychologically, because it involves restraint and patience in the face of ignorance and myths. So we give in to the second approach: getting angry is much easier and requires less effort, faster and revolutionary results are more tempting and attractive. But it's wrong. Any results we get from such an approach will be people who share our own distorted perspective, armed with a microscopic lense and finely tuned antenna for anything that shows cars as evil and bikes as good... all in a consistent, binary ying-yang.
There is only one way to change cyclist behaviour... as well as to win people over to cycling... and that is frustratingly slow and gradual debate and education.
That is to say, combatting myths and preconceived notions with a smile and an explanation, all in a civilized and patient manner.
People operate by logic and science and evidence and data... but one ingredient subliminally trumps all of those: emotion.
That's why we say "winning hearts and minds". So be kind and modest in presenting your arguments, because nothing turns off people like arrogance, even if it was supported by the very best data and evidence.
In fact, some will effectively go as far as to irrationally inflict hardship on themselves just so they can stubbornly thwart logical and scientific but arrogant and condescending efforts. Including me.
Many NIMBYs may succumb to that tactic as well, meanwhile the solution may have been just simply kindness. Instead, here they are called names and treated like garbage.
I am therefore very happy with the respectful replies to (andrewpmk) and engaging him in debate, trying to win him over. I second wislaHD.
Ignoring him, although very easy for me and on me, being a click of a button away and giving me piece of mind, is not the answer... and will only serve to increase the isolation of the cycling cause, and reinforce polarization.
Even if I am not successful in winning him over and do not convert him into a supporter, at least I could perhaps dissuade him from being my enemy and convert him into an indifferent bystander. And that's also a win.
EDIT: and even if he remains my enemy, at least I tried instead of just giving up.
Whether it's the car crowd or the bike crowd or the electric velomobile crowd, there is one common denominator: human nature. And as per usual human nature, I choose my faction based on common shared interests, slowly ideologize, and then start defending mindlessly.
Let's not get fooled into thinking cyclists are somehow cooler and different from motorists.
