I've come in pretty late into this thread but just wanted to add my own personal comments. As a cyclist, motorcyclist and motorist what each one has in common is the lack of respect for other road users, including cyclists and motorists but for very different reasons.
When cycling, I tend to ride very defensively. I guess that's just my motorbike survival techniques on the road. I always adhere to road safety and respect it's laws at all times. There are a few exceptions however. 1. If I'm holding up traffic and there is a bus behind me and the path is clear then i will (rightly or wrongly) take the path to allow traffic to pass. 2. As I live in the depths of the country, there's one piece of road which is NSL when it shouldn't be. Blind bends and corners makes my visibility very difficult and there have been a number of fatal accidents in the past. Again, I'll use the pavement but only when it's clear which it is majority of the times. Other times, I stop at red lights, give clear signals and manoeuvre as I should.
I have seen just as many cars jump light, mount pavement and even park on crossings as they drop people off at the station. It always amazes me the number of decent cars on the road but they appear not have basic instruments, such as indicators.. It's all down to road user consideration, which there is a lack of. People are in too much of a rush to get here and there with all considerations void.
I've seen a fair number of cars etc go through red lights very late but I see cyclists skip red lights EVERY day and i'm always having to look out for them when crossing roads in London. It is honestly so dangerous, a green man means nothing.
I don't mind cyclists on the pavements if there is good reason but they have to give priority to pedestrians.
As a car driver i've never had a problem with a cyclist and i always give them plenty of room.
As with most things there are people that are fine but there are far too many which aren't. As more cyclists take to the road (which i'm in favour of) i do think there needs to be more structure to it, perhaps a test of some sort.