Why we do what we do the way we do it... maybe?

[Guy]

Researching my up-coming trip to Italy in May, I came upon a statement on a web site for an Italian city that looks at cycling as a way of life (there are 110,000 bicycles for the town's 134,000 inhabitants as well as 31 cycling points of sale or repair in Ferrara)... "cycling is seen as "an extension of the human body", which corresponds well to cyclists' behavior. They do not see themselves as using a means of transport and consequently do not respect the road code". Italians have had many many years of cycling history to develop biking systems as they relate to their societal needs. I think that we find ourselves not stopping at stop signs etc. because we see riding in the same way- "an extension of the human body". Or are we just lazy? I am not speaking about commuters here but us peleton road riders. Any comments? thoughts?