Of the non cager variety...

I have had a few encounters and close calls... last time was when I was coming home from my old shop and a couple of tweakers tried to roll me but I am a hard and fast target and saw them before they saw me and because it was icy and I had studs to their sneakers they were not very coordinated.

Before that I had a group of teens jump in front of me on a busy street while I had the hammer down to keep pace with traffic... I was lucky I had an open lane to my left and the outermost and closest kid was the unlucky recipient of an elbow to the head. When I glanced back cars had stopped and the kid was getting helped off the street.

Had a guy clip me with his car and then threatened to kick my ass... wtf ?

When the door opened and his foot came down I closed the door for him with my foot... and then he was screaming at me because he thought I broke his leg which may have very well been true.

When I asked him if he still wanted to kick my ass he drove off.

I figure that any time someone gets out of their safe and secure car to accost or assault a cyclist (and I have had friends get assaulted in this manner) that you are fully justified in doing whatever is needed to prevent being assaulted.