We need to gently remind the public that traffic laws are for drivers, and bicyclists are drivers. Treating cyclists as drivers is in cyclists' interest, because the operational principles of bicycles are so similar to other types of vehicles, and so different from pedestrians, that we can travel more safely and efficiently by vehicular rules in most cases. Some cyclists claim that traffic laws were designed for cars and that it's unfair or unreasonable to require cyclists to obey them. They rebel against traffic laws because of their frustration at other drivers who don't properly respect them. But the reality is that the system designed to provide the optimum balance of safety and efficiency for drivers of vehicles works better than any other system for drivers of bicycles. We cannot obtain a more safe and efficient system for bicycle driving by ignoring the rules we already optimized for that purpose.
I found this interesting, and on topic:
The Social and Emotional Aspects of Transportation Cycling by Bruce A. Mol (c) 2002
http://www.gonecycling.com/commuter/aspects.htm