Matt,
I don't even pay a license fee. I do sink about $150-200 a year into maintenance on my mountain bike because I use it for recreation and as a commuter bike 8 months out of the year. I put an average of 6500 miles a year on my truck, 75% of which is from hunting and snowmobiling. The bike gets around 1200 a year.
I also don't weigh very much (me + bike = ~220 lbs) so I have virtually zero impact on the road, therefore not impacting the costs of maintenance. I am also not belching exhaust (CO), congesting roads, not creating a demand for new roads, and not requiring demand for more parking area.
As for traffic laws, you might check what they are in Montana. If bicycles not stopping at stop signs is annoying, that is not the problem of the bicyclist. In Idaho, the law states I am not required to come to a complete stop at a stop sign, and I can run a red light after stopping. Most state laws are similar so most likely they are obeying the laws in Montana as well. In Idaho, people are encouraged, not required, to ride on the road where it is safe to do so. Otherwise they can ride on the sidewalk. There is no where in Boise that it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Downtown, it is unlawful to ride skateboards and skates/blades on the sidewalks.
There are other things I do in traffic for my own safety that probably annoy other drivers. But I am within the law every time. Every once in a while there are a few leters to the editor about bicycles and what they do on the roads. Every time, the things people complain about are in fact lawful.
Like in all other walks of life, the few assholes make the rest of us look bad. Being polite goes a long way.
edit - here is the statute for Idaho
http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=490070020.K
TITLE 49
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 7
PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES
49-720. STOPPING -- TURN AND STOP SIGNALS. (1) A person operating a
bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and,
if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing
to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to
any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely
as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving
across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a
person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if
required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection
without stopping.
(2) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a
steady red traffic-control signal shall stop before entering the intersection,
except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the
right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn without
stopping or may cautiously make a left-hand turn onto a one-way highway
without stopping.
(3) A person riding a bicycle shall comply with the provisions of section
49-643, Idaho Code.
(4) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given during not
less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the bicycle before
turning, provided that a signal by hand and arm need not be given if the hand
is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle.
