I commute in Toronto daily. Every day I see cyclists doing things that put them at risk. They blame the cars of course.
3 things I find most important.
1. Don't ride against the curb or parked cars. Maintain some space so you can avoid pedestrians and opening car doors.
2. Ride in a straight line! This will get better with time. When a car sees that you can maintain a straight line they will feel more comfortable passing you which is better than a car driving right behind you waiting for space to gun it around you.
3. Be aware! Pass right turners on the LEFT of the car. Don't bomb intersections of any kind without looking for traffic. If you need one, get a mirror.
I see so many clueless cyclists riding with headphones, wobbling around, and not paying attention. These are usually the ones that get hurt.
If you realize that it's pretty much up to you to avoid any car interactions you will be a much safer.
That said, it's really not that bad once you get used to it
