On the other hand, I've had good success with driving a car like I ride a bike here in less rule-abiding places to fit in.
Rule-following seems to be a function of the sensibility of the rules. When the rules don't work for you you stop adhering to them, and the rules for bicycles often don't make sense in a car-centric world.
Cologne and Copenhagen both have very strong cultures of abiding by traffic signals, even for pedestrians. One time in Cologne I started to feel awkward that we are all waiting, and suddenly a sports car zoomed out of a tunnel and through a green light. That's why no one was crossing against the light.
No, they exist for motorists' convenience, as can be seen from the example. Cyclists have been brainwashed for the last 50 years to believe that riding on the regular road means instant death, that's why they stay in the bike lane even if the normal road is empty.
It sounds like you're talking about American cyclists. In Amsterdam (and maybe Copenhagen) cyclists are dominant over cars. But it would be pretty rude to ride in the car lane for any distance when a bike lane is available.
Not at all - in many recent renovations they reduce the car lanes from two-way with parking to a single one-way, making room for double wide bike lanes.
The plan is to make it so cars won’t drive through the city, but still be able to reach each spot.
On the other hand, I've had good success with driving a car like I ride a bike here in less rule-abiding places to fit in.
Rule-following seems to be a function of the sensibility of the rules. When the rules don't work for you you stop adhering to them, and the rules for bicycles often don't make sense in a car-centric world.