"as with any oppressed minority, it's an uphill battle!"
Not sure how tongue in cheek you are being!(?)
I thought the 'hard pressed motorists' were a/the minority!
When I cycle round the streets of Edinburgh I don't think about the areas in which I am a minority. (I'm male, so there's not much I can do about being in a group that is less than 50% of the population.)
I assume that there are more people driving cars so to the extent that we have chosen our forms of transport I suppose my choice is 'minority'.
But as 'we' tend to experience some days, that majority is further sub-set into (for instance, BMWdrivers and whitevanmen - those are further sub-setted by good/bad/other).
I do think about how many drivers wish they were cycling. How many aren't because ... (slot in legitimate reason/dubious excuse). AND how many think "I'd like to but it's not 'safe', I'm not fit enough etc.
I also wonder how many do actually see to the extent of being able to pass the 'read that number plate' (is there a more modern equivalent??) part of their driving test.
I wonder how many really know the law/Highway Code when it comes to yellow lines ASLs etc. (I wonder how many people with bikes do...)
There must be many people who have seen cycling in London and think that it's legal/legitimate/safer to (at the very least) go ahead of the white line at junctions.
Don't forget that there are countries where it's legal to cycle left (or usually right) through red lights if there are no pedestrians.
Then in some countries/states/cities drivers are expected to stop if someone wants to cross the road!
So (with only an oblique look at rioters/looters) there must be people who disregard (many) laws/'petty restrictions' as a matter of course. Some think they are vanguarding the rules/laws as they think they should be - so would be happy to have their day in court, others quite confident that they won't be caught anyway.
That was about 'cyclists'. Some motorists are as bad (ever seen cars deliberately going the wrong way in the short bit of Leven Terrace?). Of course they can't 'get away with it' because they are bigger, have number plates, licences to lose etc. etc.
SO some of them resent cyclists - and in turn, perhaps, all cyclists and (perhaps) any other minority/other group.
I feel no responsibility for them (not just because I don't drive very often).
I think I have only been told off twice by other people on bikes - once for being in front of a white line at a junction where I know it's advisable to get a head start on the traffic - "you're giving cyclists a bad name". The other was on the Millennium Bridge where I was proceeding at a very slow pace with my legs on both sides of the crossbar.
I also came across an unpleasant policeman who took exception to me cycling on the ramp/bridge at Leuchars Station. I explained that carefully (I was) riding a loaded touring bike was safer (hands on both brakes) and taking up less room than me walking beside it. But it made no difference.
Because of course rules are strictly black and white and must be slavishly followed and enforced...
HOWEVER I don't like people who cycle without lights. I'm sure it must give all cyclists a bad name and is dangerous and illegal and...
These days it's only a minority because lights are cheap and (because of LEDs) they don't go out as often.
Tip of the day - always carry spare batteries. (Four lights is better than two anyway.)
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