No aggro but ... respect the road the way I do ... because I've got registration (OV13 VNM)

There's  a motorcyclist who seems to like to educate London cyclists about mobile phone use by very direct means - a mirror to the elbow.

"Cycling is Dangerous"

No it isn't.

Motoring is dangerous : cyclists are endangered...
... as are pedestrians and even other motorists !

Those that say "Cycling is Dangerous" have obviously given the subject no thought.

Their aim may be to exaggerate the fear of motorists, in a word, terrorism.

I've even experienced the argument taken to extremes:

"It's dangerous because if you get in my way, I'll get angry and I might do something dangerous - that could get you killed."

So ... do we roll over in the gutter and let the terrorists have their way ?

"Kid killed - how dangerous are 'Balance Bikes'?"

Tragedy of the Commons

According to Wikipedia, The tragedy of the commons is an economics theory by Garrett Hardin, according to which individuals behave contrary to the whole group's long-term best interests by depleting some common resource.

The original example was common grazing land - all the commoners could buy more cattle to graze there, so they all did, resulting in over-grazing resulting in the cattle dying.

I think it now applies to roadspace - anyone can own a car, so too many do. People are reluctant to drive somewhere, if they fear it will be difficult to find a parking space there. Motorists even object to those that use less space, fearing they move more slowly.

Tax

It's not 'Road Tax': it's 'Vehicle Excise Duty' and is really a Pollution Tax. 

Ipayroadtax.com says it all so much better than I could !

Education, not war

This video is interesting as it clearly illustrates the "War on Britain's Roads" as an educational process.
The motorist and the cyclist are each trying to educate the other in road-etiquette.