In my experience, operators of recumbent bicycles are somewhat more responsible on the road - perhaps because their ride costs more, or perhaps it's not a gizmo for novices, or perhaps they are so close to the road that a pocket size Yugo looks like a tank to them. They often have flags, because otherwise they'd be invisible.
I, personally, don't mind sharing the road with a bike... as long as there is road to share. Unfortunately, bicyclists are attracted to scenic, winging, and narrow roads, where there is no space to safely and legally pass a bike. This is what makes me not entirely happy - these people are forcing innocent drivers to leave the lane, and to risk a collision with oncoming traffic just because the bicyclist wants an exercise. Some roads (one lane in each direction) even have a sign "Share the road", and a solid yellow double line all along the road. How is one supposed to share a single lane that is just wide enough for a car? One bicyclist, moving slowly along such a road, can endanger hundreds of drivers... and many of them are just doing their job, working for Fedex and UPS, delivering LNG and construction supplies... they do not deserve such treatment; not any more than a construction crew would tolerate a stranger who walks all over the site and interferes with work. It's easier to understand when someone rides to work, but plenty of bicyclists ride on weekends, purely for their pleasure. Roads should not be personal gyms.
All such discussion are heavily site specific. I agree that there are some roads that can’t easily be shared. But most can. I do most of my riding in the city and am close enough to ride to work, which I would do regularly were it not for school pickup duty in the afternoon. I take the side streets and stay off arterial roads. Sometimes one is forced onto a busy road, and if that’s the case, I hop onto the sidewalk, if there is one. Good traffic design solves a lot of problems. This includes sidewalks, generous shoulders, and a street grid on a regular city square system that allows you to get around efficiently on the side streets. Neighborhoods that are built that way are a pleasure to ride in. Neighborhoods that are built entirely for automobiles are problems.
