The issue with bike lanes too is it reinforces the perception that bikes belong crammed way into the gutter and are in no circumstances allowed in the actual laneway. As a result you end up taking **** from drivers who think you're breaking the law and being reckless by taking the lane when you have to. FFS I've had someone pass me in the oncoming traffic lane because I was in the middle of the road trying to make a left. Not only did the dip**** almost kill me but he screams at me to get in the bike lane as he passes. The perception that bikes belong exclusively in lane-ghettos at the side of the road is ten times more harmful than the possibility that someone is just going to randomly run you down from behind.

Personally I'm of the opinion that bikelanes are more harmful to cyclists than anything. If (as someone mentioned) they just put up signs that said "Cyclists allowed to use entire lane" on every street it would do more good than having a bikelane on every single laneway in the downtown core.