Originally Posted by
asmac
Me: You passed me kind of close
Him: What? (turns the radio down)
Me: You passed me kind of close. You almost hit me.
Him: I don't have much room on this side. (meaning the driver side)
Me: That doesn't give you the right to kill me.
Him: F*** you.
I suppose I should have taken the lane but I can't really do that all the time and it's hard to know when. If I took the lane all the way to and from work I expect three things would happen:
1. My usually stress-free commute would become usually stressful
2. A lot of drivers actually would want to kill me
3. Bikes would eventually be banned from rush hour routes
So I will keep looking in the mirror and try to better predict when I should move over.
1. So, it would be more stressful for you to force a few motorists to slow down and drive with due regard for other road users than to be buzzed by riding too far right. I disagree, but this is your ride, not mine. Unfortunately, cyclists who invite these close passes by riding too far right in unshareable lanes cause motorists to be upset with cyclists who take the lane when it is not wide enough to share, so I do have a self-interest in your riding style.
2. I never realized SoCal was so barbaric. I guess my innate NorCal dislike of all things SoCal is justified.
3. I have a hard time imagining car-addicts mustering the wherewithal to change the laws of California such that bikes are banned. This is the only state to have established explicit carbon emission targets, after all.
Look, you invited the motorist to buzz you. When he obliged, you gave him a hard time. He responded negatively to being hassled. No surprises here, but you do have a teachable moment if you are willing to see what is on offer.