As a motorist I find it better to give cyclists a wide berth, just because the ba*ds are too bloody unpredictable - I don't think half of them have ever read the highway code, let alone read it (that said, I dislike 'psychic' drivers# and give them a wide berth too).

As a pedestrian, I have suffered from contact with the two wheel anii* who ecide that the footpath/pedestrian area is an extension of the cycle path.
There used to be one particular idiot who chose to ride at speed along the footpath (resticted by legal parking**) with no regard to the safety of those on foot - My practice was to carry a golfing umberella. Strangely enough, I discovered that even mad cyclists will stop if, the party they are aiming their bike at is holding a metal spike at cyclist eye height refusing to jump out of the way (not good manners, I admit, but desperate time breed desperate measures).
And before any militant cyclists get on their high horses, yes, there are some stupid ba*d & thoughtless motorists out there too, but that's a different story.

As to how to improve matters?
In my opinion, bring cyclists into the same system as other road users.
1) Mandatory Insurance
2) Cycle registration numbers (number plates)
3) Road fund licence (nominal sum, but it gets rid of the "We pay for the road" argument)
4) MoT inspections for cycles (on the same basis as motor cycles).
5) A (seperate)cycle 'driving licence' (perhaps based on the cycling proficiency test) with the same penalties as (and points carried over to) standard driving licences+.

Must stop before I start to rant.

Walrus


# 'Psychic drivers' - "I-know-where-I'm-going...Now-read-my-mind."
* Anii is the plural of anus, yes?
** Arranged to leave the (narrow) cycle path clear of parked vehicles
+ Offences carried out as a cyclist should impact on the (regular) driving licence (perhaps a number of cycling 'points' to equal one motoring point), but a driving ban should still allow cycling, unless the ban was based on cycling points.