Go out any weekend in the summer months and you’ll find the lanes around Hughenden, Radnage and Stokenchurch full of cyclists.

There’s no doubt that Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and the rest have inspired a lot more people either to dig their old student bike out of the garage or go the whole hog and invest in a new machine plus the lycra to suit.

In our area, the Phoenix Trail between Risborough and Thame and the 170 mile circular Chilterns Cycleway are major attractions. And it’s not just in the countryside that this is happening. Just look at the space at Marylebone Station now given over to cycle racks or the success of ‘Boris Bikes’ in central London. More employers too are providing racks and showers at the office or factory.

All this is good in terms of public health and (in a small way) reducing pollution, but this growing popularity of cycling also presents some challenges for both attitudes and policy.

Now I drive, I walk and I sometimes cycle. When I’m driving, I do get impatient when I’m caught behind a group of cyclists.

As a pedestrian, I’ve got my stories of London cyclists who refuse to stop at crossings or red lights and treat those on foot with arrogant disregard.

But the fundamental truth is surely this: for a motorist, being delayed for a few minutes by cyclists is an inconvenience, but for a cyclist a selfish or aggressive driver can threaten death or serious injury.

Like many parents, I still shudder at the memory of how, when I was teaching my children to cycle, a car would sometimes overtake at high-speed and dangerously close.

Doing Wheelpower’s ‘Tour de Vale’ event around Aylesbury a couple of weeks ago, I saw that that arrogant minority of drivers is still around.

I’m not someone who believes that new laws are the right answer to every problem. It’s public attitudes that need to adapt.

Of course the laws against dangerous driving should be enforced, but I wonder whether the driving test and the practice of driving instructors places sufficient emphasis on drivers having regard to cyclists, riders and pedestrians.

There are things cyclists need to do as well. When I was little, I did the old cycling proficiency test. I applaud those schools and voluntary groups where volunteers make similar tests possible today and I’d like to see all children have that opportunity.

Of course there are policy implications too. As Europe Minister, I’ve been impressed to see how cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam make space for cyclists of all ages to ride safely and confidently.

I agree that new town and road planning should build in provision for cyclists. But the reality is also that adding cycle lanes to existing, often narrow roads is usually far from straightforward, especially if keeping a cycle lane clear also means a ban on on-street parking.

So I think in the end the most important objective is to change public attitudes. In my lifetime I’ve seen that happen over drink-driving. What was once the norm is now regarded not just as illegal but as morally and socially unacceptable? Smoking in public places is rapidly going the same way and so should an aggressive and intolerant attitude by motorists towards cyclists.