I was riding down a major (arterial) road here in Portland - NE Sandy for the locals - probably doing 25 mph, just managing to pace the car ahead of me, feeling fairly pleased. A car that had been following behind us changed lanes to pass me on the left - a safe pass, plenty of room - and the passenger stuck his head out the window and yelled something not entirely intelligible but clearly uncomplimentary. I heard "road" and "idiot".
This bothered me for a few seconds, and then I realized that I hardly remember the last time I've encountered a hostile driver, or passenger in this case, and that made me smile. Thinking hard about it, I'd say it has been at least 100 weeks or 2 years.
So, here is the question. How many weeks has it been since your last encounter with a HOSTILE driver or passenger.
Be clear on the definition: by "HOSTILE", I mean s/he cursed at you, threw something, deliberately buzzed or swerved at or brake checked you, or otherwise intentionally directed overt abuse or intimidation at you. I do not mean s/he was inattentive, clueless, moron, passed you too close because s/he was picking her nose with her mascara brush, or s/he sent you hostile vibes or nasty looks or lips were mouthing something unpleasant. Let's not be babies about this. We're riding in the city, mixing with cars, need thick skin.
A car-load of college students yelled something unintelligible, but distinctly unfriendly, at me yesterday. I put it down as young men being drunk idiots, and didn't react or take it personally. Before that, nothing for years. No, wait- about two weeks ago, a guy honked at me and gave me the finger while I was riding in the bike lane, minding my own business. I flipped him off in turn, he slowed down, then stopped, hoping to intimidate me, I guess, which gave me an opportunity to tell him what I thought of his behavior in person. I'm afraid I made liberal use of the F word, and so did he. He seemed really angry, but also kind of freaked out.
This makes me wonder- maybe I get harassed more than I think, but I just forget about it, because it's not that important to me in the grand scheme of things?