| For me DC and Ian sum it up. Compared with Spain and France there are just too many vehicles on the roads of most of Britain and I don't know if it's because the French and Spanish are more laid back about life - they certainly drink and smoke like there's no tomorrow - but the type of 'nanny state' we endure just wouldn't be tolerated in those countries.
So is that why we think that our antics on the roads are disapproved of by other motorists or is it because we are so visible? In France a few weeks ago I was able to ride very fast and really use the performance of my bike - the only difference ... very few other motorists were around to see me. Perhaps that helps the attitude.
One thing I have noticed is that more and more motorists will get out of my way in Britian now - they seem more aware of bikes and don't seem so upset that we can ride faster and get to the head of traffic queues. Perhaps we are becoming more accepted with the exception of when we 'misbehave' in the publc gaze.  | 
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