All the Rage

What is it about sharing the road with bikes - the self-powered type? An experience today, while not completely unusual, is becoming more common and I'm wondering where all the anger is coming from.
This time it happened close to home. I went out for a Memorial Day ride on my bike and pedaled only three blocks when a guy pulled out of a side street, running the stop sign and gunning it when he saw me, as if he intended to hit me. He proceeded to give me the middle finger the next five blocks to the next signal (it was red).

It's usually best to ignore this type of thing and just move on, but I pulled up a few feet away and just had to ask him, "Where did you learn to drive"? That was the end of it - he gave it to me like a bar-room brawler throwing every expletive at me he could find (some I hadn't heard since, well, ever). Apparently, all cyclists "think they own the road" and do other things that can't be mentioned here. While he's telling me where to go and how to get there, his wife is telling him to shut his mouth. The light turns green and we part ways and I try to forget about it.

I'll be the first to admit that some cyclist run stop signs, pass cars and ride more than 2 abreast, but I'm self-conscious about following the rules of the road on a bike, especially in traffic and try to get fellow cyclist to do the same.

Not willing to completely let this go (and knowing where this guy and his wife live), I'm going to bake him some cookies and hope he can aim his frustrations and his two ton vehicle, somewhere else.

Live and let live.

Comments

[DD]

Rage is the syptom. There are issues which are deeper such as respect. Respect for authority. Respect for the other person until they earn disrepsect by giving away their personal integrity. Entiltlement. I'm entitled and to heck with you. I should be getting what I want and don't get in my way. Reflection. I don't care who or what I am. It is the other guy that is the problem not me. Honesty. Until you are honest with yourself how can you honest with others? The only fool is the person who is fooling the person in the mirror.