I was riding around today and as I was maybe 100 feet from a light I heard a beep behind me. It wasn't an aggressive horn, just a quick honk. It was a two lane road and an Explorer passed me (safely) and got to the light in the left lane. I pulled up in the right and looked in his open window, curious to see how I would be "taught" by a motorist today.

The kid looked around my age (20 or so) telling me to get on the sidewalk. And I digress - it wasn't angry. I told him (well... yelled because of the surrounding noise) that it's illegal and bikes have to be on the road. That's not exactly true for my city (read: not true), but it was much easier than trying to explain why it's safer to be on the road.

He responded "That's f---ed, I don't want you to get hit" and I thanked him as the light changed and we soon separated. So, like my title says, I doubt he really cared about learning it. He wasn't antagonistic like most motorists seem to be, so I'm expecting that by now he's completely forgotten about the incident. But hopefully the next time he comes across a cyclist on the road, he'll just think of why they're there and continue to be a safe driver.

Just made me happy to not have a bad encounter like I normally seem to.