For me there's a significant correlation (i do believe -- I"d almost want to crank out the statistics ) between what I'm wearing and riding, and where I'm riding, and how motorists respond.
On the Xtracycle and "regular" clothes and non-arterial roads, I get more room and tolerance than if I'm (span)dexed out. On any campus road when it's Drunks R Us time, welp, even then the ludicrous comments are more positive if I'm on a steel bike.
Today I was greeted by one of the guys in the Safe Haven community that hae taken up residency at my church (and are causing zonal conflicts - our pastor has cited the law that says guvmints have to allow people to practice their religions with the least resistance possible, and our religious practices include sheltering the homeless) with "that's the way to travel!" and that's perhaps the most typical comment I get. Even the students' comments are along the lines of "can I have a ride?"