Equally, when I walk on Bournemouth beach and the cyclists whizz pass a few inches from me at more than the 10mph limit, I'm sure all of those ignorant and dangerous cyclist will come up with a similar excuse for not having a number plate or insurance. Pot - kettle is the phrase that come to mind once they start complaining about the cars the next minute when they go out on the road. Pedistrians have priority on the promenade, it is written on signs regularly along the promenade and there are digital speed detection signs that even tell them they are speeding. It also specifically says cyclists should dismount and walk if it is crowded but there are youtube and blogs saying things like "just because pedestrians have priority they shouldn't block the cyclists way". Yet some cyclist seem to revel in the their new priority on the road and make it hard for cars to pass etc. I'm more than happy to give cyclist a wide birth and slow down when passing but it doesn't seem to go the same way when cyclists approach pedestrians. Also when a cyclist runs into the back of your car when driving around town because they aren't concentrating they seem to think it is ok to shout at you for stopping (in a queue of traffic) and ride off without leaving details to pay for the dent they put in the back of your car. Or the pedestrians run over by bikes who just ride off with no way to trace the bike.
If the rules were the same for all road users then maybe there would be some mutual respect.
