I'm sorry that you had such a nasty close shave (and I hope you got the number of the car in question, and reported them!); but speaking as a cyclist, I say that if you don't want to use the road because of the other people on it, then you get off and push until you feel safe to cycle. Or find another mode of transport which which you're more comfortable.
I would never go through a red light if the coast were not clear, and it safe for me and all other road users
In other words, "I'm a better road user than everybody else, so I'm qualified to make a judgement about when I can break the law; those other bad road users have to abide by the law because they're too stupid to do anything else."
Yes, other drivers can be fuckwits. But you don't have to be a cyclist to get carved up dangerously by other drivers: should car drivers be at liberty to go through red lights, or drive on pavements, if they think that doing so is safer for them than having to deal with other drivers?
And even if it's safe for you to go through the red lights, what about the people who see you doing it and think "bloody cyclists, always going through red lights"? Aren't you just reinforcing the sort of attitude to cyclists which contributes to the disrespect from other drivers that you're complaining about? If I see a cyclist going through a red light (even if I am perfectly safe - e.g. looking out of my office window), I don't think "Regard the noble warrior of the road! He's obviously thought very carefully about whether it's safe to go through that red light, and is surely acting for the greater good of humanity rather than out of any selfish desire to get to his destination sooner," I think "Oh look, another fuckwit who thinks the law doesn't apply to him."
if during my wobbling I'd hit either the kerb or the car in question (no more than a metre or so apart)
If there was only a metre between car and kerb, you must have been fairly close to the kerb to start with. Perhaps if you cycled a bit further out cars would be less likely to think there was room to "squash past"?
no subject
I would never go through a red light if the coast were not clear, and it safe for me and all other road users
In other words, "I'm a better road user than everybody else, so I'm qualified to make a judgement about when I can break the law; those other bad road users have to abide by the law because they're too stupid to do anything else."
Yes, other drivers can be fuckwits. But you don't have to be a cyclist to get carved up dangerously by other drivers: should car drivers be at liberty to go through red lights, or drive on pavements, if they think that doing so is safer for them than having to deal with other drivers?
And even if it's safe for you to go through the red lights, what about the people who see you doing it and think "bloody cyclists, always going through red lights"? Aren't you just reinforcing the sort of attitude to cyclists which contributes to the disrespect from other drivers that you're complaining about? If I see a cyclist going through a red light (even if I am perfectly safe - e.g. looking out of my office window), I don't think "Regard the noble warrior of the road! He's obviously thought very carefully about whether it's safe to go through that red light, and is surely acting for the greater good of humanity rather than out of any selfish desire to get to his destination sooner," I think "Oh look, another fuckwit who thinks the law doesn't apply to him."
if during my wobbling I'd hit either the kerb or the car in question (no more than a metre or so apart)
If there was only a metre between car and kerb, you must have been fairly close to the kerb to start with. Perhaps if you cycled a bit further out cars would be less likely to think there was room to "squash past"?