I try to ride predictably and keep an eye on everyone around me, and I never ever trust anyone. I guess my 'protection' is the wits and guile that any reasonably experienced cyclist acquires over time.

I don't really yell at or confront motorists but one morning a few weeks back I don't know what got into me - There was a pickup truck that was prariedogging into an intersection that I was legally crossing, so I palm slapped the hood as I went by. I was able to avoid him just fine, I was just po'd that he was encroaching. For the momentary satisfaction I got from jolting that guy out of whatever clouds he had his head in, the tradeoff was that I spent the next mile or so wondering if the last sound I'd ever hear was the revving of a truck engine.