As a new cyclist, I have a heightened awareness of the presence of bikes on the road, how the cyclist is behaving in traffic, and how other vehicle drivers behave. This morning I observed some bizarre actions! I'm visiting my family in the Folsom, CA area--a very popular cycling area, especially on the weekends! I'm in the left lane, heading down a busy 4 lane road with nice bike lanes. A motorcycle in the right lane is between my car and the bike lane. We stop at a light. There is a bike shop in the small shopping center on the right, and two bikes make a right out of that parking lot into the bike lane to head the same direction that I and the motorcycle are heading. By the time our light turns green, the cyclists are about 100 yards down the road. The motorcycle accelerates and veers to the far right side of the lane, and the female passenger leans out as if to swat at the cyclists. She doesn't hit either of them but as they pass, she gives them a very angry middle-finger gesture and yells something at them, then they zoom away. At this point, I'm appalled and assuming they are youngish punks. At the next light, the female passenger turns around to look at a car and I see her face--she's in her 50s! I'm 52 and was even more shocked to see a "mature" person take such irresponsible, and completely unprovoked, actions!

I've read other examples of bully behavior towards cyclists. Is this punishable in any state? Can drivers be ticketed for this kind of behavior?

Stay safe...there are some mean people out there! Thankfully not the norm, and thankfully I live in a very small, bike-friendly town in Oregon!