HH's story reminds me of what happened riding home yesterday. Was in a MWL (medium wide lane
) about 3' from curb. One driver passed a bit close, the next with good room, but also with a (polite) honk. I rolled up behind him stopped behind him, but to the left looking right into his side mirror. As expected, he rolled down window and we had this conversation:
him: "you were in the middle of the road"
me: 'so I don't get pushed over to the side"
him: "so what are we supposed to wait for you?"
me: "yeah, and go around me safely"
him: "how about riding on the side of the road?" (here he must have meant gutter)
me "its too dangerous"
him: "then how about riding on the sidewalk?"
me "its even more dangerous; people turn into you..." (as the light turned and we started moving)
Now my tone of voice was whiny and my responses to him were poorly said and I could have explained things much better, but clarity of communication suffers when I am riding hard in 105F temps.
However, interestingly as we were pulling away for the green, he gave me a friendly wave.
I really think that he thought about it a bit (and probably took note that if I was behind him, not squeezing by his right) and came to realize that I did care about my safety, had thought about it and was probably doing the right thing.
Al