I was commuting to work a few weeks back, before sunrise. I was riding a 6 speed vintage beater previously and had just switched to a new 10 speed build. I had looked down and back for a moment to see what cog I was in (+4 cogs seems more like +20 at first), and when I looked up my eyes just happened to land on a an aberration against the dark background. Turns out it was a black man, wearing all black, against a dark backdrop, walking toward me on the right side of the road. I noticed him in time to avoid a collision; it appears he had no intention of stepping out of the road and there is no way he didn't see my blindnig magicshine headlight. There is a sidewalk on the opposite side, and upon passing I said "Wrong side of the road, man." He responded by swinging around and spewing threats and cursewords until I was a good 100ft away. Saw him again, doing the same thing on a different day, and he stopped and scowled at me while I passed...he knew it was me, I'm the only cyclist on that road at that time of day.

I'm not sure what it is that people feel they need to defend about walking/riding on the road against traffic...when a car with super-duper-HIDs passes me in the opposite direction, it's momentarily blinding - if that same car passes me from behind, it's a nice pleasant alert that a car is on the way. I just don't get it.