Originally Posted by
Cyclosaurus
Yes, riding your bike in the lane is exactly like wearing a racist T-shirt in an African-American neighborhood.
Vital_Signs has captured something profound here. In his (and many drivers' minds), the existence of a cyclist in a position that requires them to slow down, stop, exercise caution, change lanes, etc. is tantamount to an aggressive insult that justifies violence. It's the drivers' territory first and foremost, so anything that happens to you as a result of pissing them off is your fault.
And thus why we bicycle drivers will not be shunned to the edge of the road or worse, in a door zone, by some stupid paint (bike lane), or segregated off the side of the road by barriers or parked cars where we're less visible at intersections and other motor vehicle conflict points.