After reading the comments on the story about a guy mowing down a bunch of cyclists I feel I should point out a few things about why cyclists are disliked by other road users and why laws regarding bicycles on the roads are stupid.

1) Motorists are required by law to pass a test in order to prove that they are competent enough to operate their vehicle and are aware of the laws and rules of the roads. In contrast, any idiot can hop on a bike and go out into traffic.
2) Motorists are required by law to have insurance that covers third parties in case of an accident. Cyclists are not insured.
3) Motor vehicles are registered and can be traced to their owners in the event that a hit and run type of incident occurs, cyclists on the other hand can cause chaos and flee without consequence.
4) Motor vehicles are required by law to pass an annual safety inspection to ensure that they are fit for use.
5) Motorists pay additional tax in order to use their vehicles, this tax is used to maintain the roads and even the cycle paths, cyclists pay nothing.

As far as I am concerned, until cyclists have to obtain a license, register themselves and their vehicles and insure themselves in order to protect other road users then they have no right to use the road.

I can forgive the tax thing because the government gives massive tax breaks to economical vehicles of all types anyway.