Originally Posted by
genec
And without bike lanes the motorist may typically share shouted complaint/insult/obscenity, etc. with any cyclist on the road."
Not in my experience. I have had more upset drivers while using roads with bike lanes (both while in and outside of them), 2nd on roads with narrow lanes and never, not even once, on roads with a wide outside lane.
It is the pavement space/width that reduces 'social friction' between cyclist and motorist, not the stripe. The stripe greatly adds to 'social friction' when the cyclist for many good and legal reasons chooses to ride outside the lane marked for cyclists.
Al