It's a question of definition rather than ignorance. Anyone may think that bicyclists don't belong on the road, but only crazies (by my definition) try to become road police.

BTW- don't misunderstand and think I think only motorists can be crazy. I see the same "road police" in all segments of society, from bicyclists (and lately a few motorists) who insist on reminding me that I "forgot" my helmet, bicyclists who try to enforce lane discipline on traffic behind them, to someone here on BF who thinks it's his job to make sure that someone doesn't sell "dangerous" bicycles.

I also don't believe we have fewer crazies here in the east. It's just that the other mental forces, like being pressed for time, are stronger and suppress the "police" urge.

I'm also curious about the psychological experiments with rats in crowded situations. We all know that crowding increases stress, but I wonder if the rats (and people) can become habituated to crowding, so those used to it handle it far better than those used to unlimited space. If there's a difference, it might (only might, not positing it as fact) explain why drivers in open country act angrier among bicyclists than those in more urban settings.