I've been lurching the forums for some years, after about two years of being pretty active. I thought it might be worth getting back into the commuter community, since I've been riding my bike for almost a year into work now. Even though it's an e-bike, I believe I am still part of the commuter community, so why not act like it

Over the past 11 months I've noticed that there is quite some hostile behavior against full time commuters. Especially when you're riding an e-bike into work, you're often perceived as lazy by certain fellow road users. I've been taking a closer look at what I've been dealing with and concluded that we're basically talking about underage guys, say 16 to around 20 years old. I've heard a certain guy offending me right behind me at the traffic lights, telling other road users how lazy I am as I'm on an e-bike. He's been trying to get under my skin for months and is basically begging for my foot up his... well, you know where this is going. He's really annoying the crap out of me, but since I'm not really into getting into trouble for abusing a minor (yes, that's everyone below 21 here), I'm trying to keep my cool.

Another situation I ran into, or ran into me, is a fellow cyclist that, as I was passing him on the left, suddenly swerved from the right to the left and actually drove his bike right into mine. I nearly fell and he kept on riding, on the car lane as he swerved out of the bike lane through a stretch of grass and onto the car lane. I got back on the bike and as I'm on an e-bike I was a bit quicker than he was, I started driving next to him (on the bike lane as I should obviously) and trying to get his attention. Nothing at all... He kept looking forward and I'm still suspecting him from ramming me intentionally.

Apparently as an e-bike rider I'm perceived as lazy. I started wearing my earbuds and listening to podcasts (I know a few great ones for those interested ) to block out the remarks from fellow road users a bit. Though it still bothers me. Why do people not just accept that I'm on a different bike as they are? I have my reasons not to be on a regular Dutch bike, or a granny bike, or a road bike or whatever else bike. I'm me, you are you, accept it. Even though I would love to ride a road bike again (which I sold for my reasons), it's just not an option for me right now. Maybe in the future, who knows...

So I'm wondering, do any of you deal with this kind of harassment while on the bike to work or back? Or am I alone in this and am I just really unfortunate?