Originally Posted by
El Cid
Maybe the debate isn't that silly. Most motorists don't use a bicycle, and instinctively see those without cars as being beneath themselves.
How prevalent this elitism is, I can't say, but it exists and it isn't hard to find.
From my experience, many drivers tend to dismiss bicycles because they have no real human association. However, as more and more cyclists appear on the streets, the percentage of drivers who are cyclists increases. And even if a driver doesn't ride herself, chances are she has a friend or relative who does...
Once that connection happens, cars are a lot more forgiving of the slow moving bicycle.
I'm a little reluctant to talk about any deep divide between cars and bikes because I see it as unnecessary. We are all traffic. The more bicycles on the road, the fewer cars... the easier life becomes for the driver.