By the rest of polite society do you mean all the drivers who always obey the posted speed limit, always indicate when changing lanes, come to a full stop at stop signs, don't burn yellow lights, don't use their horn except to warn others of danger, stop for pedestrians and pedestrian crossings, etc.?
C'mon seriously, just like drivers there's a minority of crazy cyclists who don't look out for their own or other's safety but the vast majority of us (driver and cyclists) bend the rules a bit when it's safe to do so but don't harm anybody.
Next time you are stuck in traffic look in front of you, what do you see? A car. Look behind you, what do you see? A car. Know what this means? You aren't stuck in traffic, you are traffic.
Each cyclist you see is one less car blocking up the roads for you.

I started biking to work a few days a week several years ago because traffic was so bad. It would take me the better part of an hour to drive and about the same to bike. Add a shower in the office locker room and it does take a little more time than just driving but it's worth it.

We get a lot of bicycle riders around here in the winter, riding in big groups along the two lane highways between the widely scattered towns here in Southern Arizona. The only time they irritate me is when they ride in a big cluster in the middle of the lane, and you can't pass because it's a hill or curve. That's just plain rude. Makes me want to scatter a bunch of thumbtacks when I do get to pass the rolling roadblock.

You're back to +1, but if you ever do that, I hate you.

Lots of biker bashing here. I has a sad.

Sometimes I have to take the center of my lane for safety. For example there is a pot hole and storm sewer grate 1-2 punch shortly before a stop sign where I make a left turn on my commute home. I don't feel too bad about that place though since the cars should slow down for the stop sign anyway. Also at an intersection with a light on my way too and from work, if nothing is coming I get going while there are still reds at all lights. The reason is again for safety, I don't want the guy in a car clobbering me making a right turn. when it turns green, I already want to be clear if I can.

I have no problem with this program, and no problem with bicyclists. But what I have a problem with is those elitest asshole bicyclists who act like complete dicks and block traffic and etc. on PURPOSE, like that Critical Mass bullshit.

We humans built roads to get from one place to another long before there were cars. Some of the early lobbying to get roads paved came from cycling groups. I live about 4 miles from my work and ride a bicycle to work quite often. I also enjoy driving my car and respect the fact that I share the road not just with other cars, but with trucks, tractors, combines, the occational equistrian and, yes, bicycles. It's a road, not a slot car track.
As far as the argument that you shouldn't be using the public roads for your recreation, be careful what you wish for. I admit that I tend to avoid the "lunch rides" primarily because I don't like those large packs too and they DO sometimes act less than considerate. But if we say that you can only ride on the road if you're commuting, then we should outlaw towing your boat to the lake too. Or driving to the pub to watch the football game. Only serious use of the public roads please.
So by all means call in sick this week if cyclists bug you that much. We'll all be happier.

I'll throw my hat in the cyclist/gear head contingent… I'd bitch about something, but everyone else has. Also Tash, you're awesome