Originally Posted by San Rensho

In post after post, I hear the same mantra: "Bicyclists must follow all rules of the road, always make a foot-down stop at stop sign, never run a red, never filter." Their argument is that if cyclists follow the rules of the road, cars will respect us and treat us better, and that the reason cars hate us is because they have encountered bicyclists who don't follow the rules.

To the proponents of the theory that following the rules leads to drivers respecting bicyclists right's more; what proof do you have? I'd like to see some hard evidence. I hope the thread doesn't degenerate into a recitation of anecdotal evidence, which, while entertaining, is not very probative.