So how does this work? In the Netherlands, they pay more than twice what Americans do for gas (in excess of $8/gal). What makes up the price difference, is it tax? If so, why are the Dutch not foaming psychopaths out to run down every damn bicycle on the road? What am I missing?
The price of gasoline is largely moot, to be honest. Motorists often state they won’t show respect to cyclists until bike riders pay for registration of their bikes, plus paying for proper licensing - just like motorists have to pay for. It’s a shared perception that bike riders are cheats, who aren’t paying their way. And that’s a perception which makes some, not all, motorists mad as hell.
As for your question as to why the Dutch aren’t foaming psychopaths behind the wheel? Well, they probably do get mad as hell about “some things” but the culture of cycling in the Netherlands largely mitigates that syndrome towards bike riders.
Its all excuse making anyway. The bottom line is that anyone who wants cyclists to pay for the roads (they already do) is just covering what they really want: bikes off the road. If we paid a registration, they’d want us to pay a license fee, if we paid a license fee they’d want us to pay some kind of gas tax, if we paid some kind of gas tax, they’d demand we pay for bike insurance. The idea being that the more barriers you put up to cycling the fewer cyclists will be on the road and in their way.
When driving I make a point of being very aware of bike riders and giving them plenty of space. However, the point you make at the end of your post is what I have an issue with on a daily basis - it is the rare rider who actually obeys traffic signals, at least here in Chicago. I see multiple cases every day of people on bikes just blowing right past stop signs and red lights. Really dumb and annoying behavior.
A few weeks ago I had the unusual experience of a bicyclist apologizing to me as he ran the light and nearly ran me down. He didn’t slow down or stop though.