By decent accommodations, I mean a regular street grid so that bicyclists can stay off the busier streets, sidewalks so that bicyclists and pedestrians can get off the street if it's really busy, and a network of bike lanes to help keep motorists awake.
The close calls I've seen over the years have generally been due to motorists running lights or ignoring stop signs. We have our share of badly timed lights, which exacerbates the problem. I did see one bicylist pinned under a car in an intersection (apparently not too badly hurt), but I didn't see what caused that.
If a cyclist runs a red light, he does so at his own risk.
I have had three near misses, twice while on foot and once on a bike. In both of my close escapes as a pedestrian, the motorist was making a right turn on red while on a cell phone and looking to the left, obviously checking for oncoming cars because he/she was turning on red. The one on my bike involved a motorist turning right at a stop sign without checking for anyone crossing on the sidewalk.
I ride several major trails that have at-grade crossings. If there is a light, there's no problem. Several of the crossings, however, only have flashers, which some motorists seem to regard as advisory. I wait for a good window. The most dangerous situation, which I've encountered a couple of times, is when crossing with the flashing light (meaning I have the right of way), and motorists in one or more lanes stop while some idiot decides to blow on through. So I'm crossing a four lane road, two lanes in each direction. Courteous motorists in three lanes have stopped; I'm crossing, waving thanks as I go by, and some moron sails through the one remaining lane at 50 miles an hour, blowing his horn at all the stopped cars. That should be a ticket. But the better solution would be to build overpasses for major trails, or install a stop light.
Bicyclists (and pedestrians) don't want to be on busy roads any more than motorists want them there. If they're there, it's because the highway engineers and transportation planners have left them no reasonable alternative. Build roads with wide shoulders and/or sidewalks. Open up connections on side streets so people can avoid the arterial roads. Provide more street crossings with traffic lights; make these "press the button to cross" if you want to keep traffic flowing, but make it easier for pedestrians to cross when necessary without darting across busy roads. A lot of the pedestrian accidents occur when some guy (or frequently a kid) is trying to get from his apartment building to the supermarket or strip mall across the road, and doesn't want to detour half a mile on foot to do it.
As to bikes at stop signs: I will always slow to a near stop. I try to avoid dismounting. In 50/50 situations, I will usually take the right of way, and motorists are almost always very courteous about it, as they realize cyclists don't want to stop and dismount. People moving on muscle power will do that. Frankly, for motorists who want to grouse, I'd ask if they ever jaywalk on the rare occasions they get their load of lard out of the car. People on foot are better at stopping on corners, but they jaywalk at will. And if any automobile zealot here says he never jaywalks, I will assume it's because he's not walked anywhere since he was 16 years old and got his license. In other words, a typical suburbanite.
You are a good writer, and I suspect a fast typist as well.
“I’d ask if they ever jaywalk on the rare occasions they get their load of lard out of the car. “
As a matter of fact I don’t! It’s dangerous enough crossing at the crosswalk and I’ve almost been hit by motorist on cell phones. I’m not bloody stupid as to jaywalk. Believe you me, if I’m going to complain about bicyclist not following the rules of the road I sure as hell am following them.
Problems we’ve had with cyclists have been them riding on the side walk. One missed me but hit an elderly woman, then kept on going. Don’t know if they ever found him.
I think it's rooted in the idea that a lot of people on FR see bikes as a liberal thing. Not form of exercise, enjoyment for the rider or simply a way to be outdoors. All of that is considered "liberal". I've read posts in the past where they get a joy out of thinking about running a cyclist over and are applauded.
Really, I think it's partly jealousy (too fat and lazy to ride a bike) or it's a mental position that says "I'm too cool a conservative to ride a sissy bike".
Some people on these threads make FR look childish. To feel threatened by someone on a bike while in a car is so utterly ridiculous.
I ride a bike with my son for exercise. People either are cautious around us or downright intimidating with their cars. I truly don't understand the mindset that people on bikes are a threat to society.