So I'm talking with [friend] about why drivers and road cyclists hate each other - seems most drivers hate road cyclists because a lot break the road laws, and most cyclists hate drivers because a lot treat them like trash and don't think they should even be in the road. I do experience the latter a lot, but I also sometimes see some nice drivers that DO know how the laws apply to bikes, like one time on [local busy road] I had to move left a lane and a car let me in front of them until I could get back over.

There are also actually places where biking on the sidewalk is prohibited, as well as places where sidewalks flat-out don't exist. It would be nice to not feel like my options in those places are limited to "get treated like an asshole" or "don't go there".

In addition, studies have shown that road riding is safer than sidewalk riding. Despite being treated like shit on the road, my personal experience usually agrees - when I'm on the road, people will honk at me and pass close, but they'll _go around_ nonetheless. When I'm on the sidewalk, I have to stop at every side street to make sure that there's not going to be someone randomly blowing a stop sign until they're almost in the road they're crossing - stopping across the sidewalk.

I do want to obey the laws of the road on cycling (as the MVC statute that even allows bikes on the road states cyclists must do). I have no control over other actions, and I'll make an exception if following the law actually makes me feel more endangered than breaking it (for example, when biking with a large group through a dangerous neighborhood, if they won't stop at a red light, I won't be the one who does and lets them leave me behind).

It would be nice to be treated nicely.

That is all.