I think this goes way deeper than this. The problem I see is that motorists put cyclists in the same group as themselves. But they just don’t fit there. Go to any city centre and your average pedestrian is an absolute menace: to motorists, cyclists, and other pedestrians. They walk where they like, when they like. But there is no hate directed towards them. The occasional moment of frustration, and maybe even the odd blip on the horn. And then it’s forgotten about.
Cyclists are pedestrians on wheels, yet they are put into this group that must abide 100% to a bunch of rules that were created mainly for motorised vehicles and the dangers they present. And whilst yes, some law and order is always a good thing (and don’t get me wrong, I see some stupid cycling), I think the rigid black and white thinking on this is the bigger threat to cyclists. And I believe it is strongly re-enforced by cyclists chastising cyclists.
The perception of cyclists is not created by them jumping a few red lights. It’s something much more complex. An intricate identity. One that comes with expectations. And it’s that identity that needs to be addressed, because at the moment, it just isn’t right. Yet we, ourselves are just as much to blame for creating it.