Originally Posted by
unterhausen
there really isn't all that much controversy over this subject. Motorists have one idea, but it's based on lack of knowledge. U.S. bike paths/lane design is a subject that continues to change as the transportation community works on designs that function properly
given the special requirement to cope with the dangerous and self-centered habits of U.S. motorists.
Rodale Press generated a "
bicycle drivers manual" that was published in Pennsylvania and possibly elsewhere. It covers the bases fairly well. There is also information available from the
LAB. In general, bicycles are treated as vehicles, although in some states they aren't classified as vehicles. I'm not aware of any states where they don't have the rights and responsibilities of other vehicles.
You've struck it squarely there. Perhaps the OP might consider a bit of a change in his/her focus from attitudes towards infrastructure and bikes to how much the safety of cyclists would be enhanced by serious traffic law enforcement. There was a study out of Oz that, IIRC, determined that nearly 90% of all motorist-cyclist collisions were the fault of the motorist. Since collisions between motorists and cyclists are where the deaths occur, as opposed to skinned knees, that's where we need to focus.