The negative attitude appears to have come about over the past year or two. My theory as to why?
1. More people cycling on the road (particularly London) means that drivers have to pay more attention to what they are doing.
2. Jelousy - we pass traffic, keep fit, spend less money on commuting etc..
3. Some see it as their road because they pay an imaginary tax (don't go there)
4. We are the easiest target for people to take out their frustrations (smallest fish in the pond)
Overall, it still baffles me as to why the hatred. I don't mean "dislike" or "they irritate me". As above; BMW and Audi drivers tailgating irritate me, but I don't Hate them. People walking out into the road on their phones irritate me, but I don't hate them. People not indicating in their cars irritate me, but ........
If anyone has read a newspaper comment thread or listened the LBC or BBC London over the period where there were the cyclsits deaths. Nearly all drivers were using it to blame cylists! Now that irritated me.