[lifer]

As for the argument about it usually being a cars fault when bikes get in an accident, here is what I think is a reasonable explanation.
It's likely that many accidents are stictly caused by recklessness on the part of the driver, many others are probably strictly the bikers fault; I expect that most accidents are both people's fault. Drivers are looking for cars, and expecting other vehicles to behave like cars and trucks. Many bikers do not behave like cars and trucks, so they'll fill a gap in traffic that may have been open a moment before, and would still be open, if not for a bike manouvering faster than a different vehicle would. Example, driving south on crowchild, just after you pass the downtown exits and another lane opens up to the left. A car in the middle lane wants to pull into the left lane to pass the car in front of him, so the driver shoulder checks and sees that the lane is open. he starts to switch lanes. Unfortunatley, behind the truck that is behind the car is a biker. The biker shoots into the left lane to pass everybody, painfully unaware that 80 feet ahead of him another car in entering that lane. The biker moves up and bam, the car and the bike are occupying the same spot at the same time. Who's fault is this? The car could have shoulder checked again, but the biker could have accelerated more carefully.
I've had a few instances like this (I drive a car), I've never hit a motor biker, never even really been close, but if I didn't double shoulder check I could have killed the guy.
All bikers are likely aware of the fact that many drivers don't pay enough attention to them, and aren't watching closely enough...all the more reason for the bikers to be very careful. Most seem to get it, a large enough proportion to be very noticeable and problematic don't seem to.

You know what they say, they elephant doesn't have to look out for a squirrel...
Careful bikers = living bikers.


edit: I just wanted to add this about not showing respect on the road to bikers who are acting like idiots.
Get out of their way. You are not teaching them a lesson, you are making them angry and increasing the odds of them making stupider decisions. Let the guy go past you and enjoy your day, he'll be gone and you'll be happy. Same goes for cars, people are going to drive how they want. Unless you're a police officer, your goal when driving should be to get where you're going while being as minor of an inconvenience to other drivers as possible.