I don't think so. I am older than yourself... and my memories seem to remain intact. I don't recall the era of which you speak. When cars used their AI wit to prey on humans. And I most certainly do not remember humans discarding their love of humanity. In all of human history... it has never been legal or acceptable to prey on road cyclists.

However... their was a period when cyclists thought it was their right to exercise their freedom of speech (expression) by flipping-off the motoring public (AKA giving "the bird"). Of course... many cyclists not wishing to be entangled in conflict.... restricted their obscene gestures to grandmothers or women with small children. In my recollections this began the them-against-us mentality... that endured for decades.

Obeying traffic laws.... staying within the letter of the law.... does not make anyone good at sharing the road.